Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields have been competing since they were high school stars in Georgia, sharing a quarterback coach. They battled each other until the final minute of last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal. They approached this season as co-favorites for the Heisman Trophy, leading perhaps the country’s two best teams.
Then, the Big Ten season was postponed, granting Lawrence an even larger spotlight. Before Ohio State had taken the field, the Clemson quarterback had thrown for 15 touchdowns and just one interception while leading the top-ranked Tigers to a 5-0 start.
“Justin was a whole lot upset because they weren’t playing and Clemson was playing,” quarterback coach Ron Veal — who also trains Lawrence — told Yahoo Sports. “[Justin] just felt like I’m sitting here being quiet, and no one is paying attention to me while someone else is going off.”
Now, the nation’s attention turns to Fields.
With Lawrence sidelined by COVID-19 for at least one game, Fields and No. 3 Ohio State head to No. 18 Penn State for the biggest game in the nation this weekend. In his season debut, Fields completed 20 of 21 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns, along with 54 yards rushing and another score in a 52-17 win over Nebraska.
After transferring from Georgia, Fields was a Heisman finalist last season, throwing for 41 touchdowns and three interceptions in his first season as a starter.
“He’s put a lot of work into it,” coach Ryan Day told Yahoo. “In practice, if the look isn’t right, he wants to run it again. There’s been a lot of work put into that, and it’s starting to show.”
Unlike several Big Ten stars, Fields didn’t opt out when the prospects of a season appeared shaky, and led a player movement online (#WeWantToPlay). Though Lawrence has long been considered a lock to be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, Fields likely will be the second quarterback taken. Perhaps if Lawrence returns to Clemson for his senior season — rather than potentially being picked by the Jets — the Buckeyes quarterback could take his place at the top of the board.
