Ohio State football: QB Justin Fields officially declares for NFL Draft

Justin Fields, among the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, will declare for the 2021 NFL Draft.

In what felt like a matter of when instead of if, Ohio State’s Justin Fields has made his decision. While perhaps the Buckeyes could run it back in 2021, it’s clear Fields’ time in Columbus is up.

The Ohio State quarterback has officially declared for the 2021 NFL Draft, forgoing his final season of eligibility with the Buckeyes. Fields took to Twitter to make his decision public, speaking highly of what he will miss about his time at the Horseshoe and what he looks forward to in the future of his career.

“Growing up, my dream was to one day play the game that I love at the highest level,” Fields wrote. “Now thanks to God’s grace and mercy, along with the help of you all, I am in a position to turn that dream into a reality. And for that reason, I am foregoing my senior year and declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft.”

What is Fields’ potential that the next level

Fields’ first season as the full-time starter for the Buckeyes went off in stellar fashion. The then-sophomore tallied 3,273 yards with 41 touchdowns and three interceptions while rushing for 484 yards and 10 touchdowns. He finished third in Heisman voting for the 2019 season.

In a limited season with the Big 10 restrictions, Fields still proved to be one of the more polished players in the conference. He threw for 1,906 yards with 21 touchdowns and six interceptions, three coming in one game against Indiana. The dual-threat option also tacked on another 316 yards and five scores with his legs.

The potential for greatness with Fields was evident in the College Football Playoff outing against Clemson. The Buckeyes picked up a 49-28 victory over the Tigers while the Georgia native was on-point all night. Fields finished with 385 yards passing with six touchdowns to send Ohio State back to the National Championship for the first time since 2014.

The question will be where Fields plays at the next level. Many believe that following the hiring of former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, the Jacksonville Jaguars could shock the NFL world by drafting Fields over bonafide standout Trevor Lawrence. Others believe he will fall somewhere in the top 10.

Fields’ final two outings might be a sign of his upside at the NFL level. No matter where he lands, a team will have the chance to build around one of College Football’s more exciting players for years to come.

For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.