How does the Ohio State quarterback room look without Justin Fields?
With the expected departure of star quarterback Justin Fields following a potential 2020 season, how does Ohio State find the next guy under center (or in the shotgun for that matter.)
After a 2019 season, which thankfully had Fields playing nearly every snap uninjured, as the Buckeye quarterback room had a shortage of depth with the backup quarterback. Former West Virginia turned Buckeye walk-on quarterback in senior Chris Chugonov (who actually played solidly in the spots he was given), and third-string Dublin Coffman product turned Kentucky transfer in Gunnar Hoak were there.
The backups Chugonov and Hoak did have some talent, but the room was devoid of a so-called quarterback of the future. That changed this summer when the Buckeyes took on not one, but two highly touted prospects competing for one spot in California native C.J Stroud and longtime Buckeye commit from Arizona in Jack Miller.
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Stroud comes to Ohio State with more fanfare than Miller. The former no. 2 pro-style passer in the 2020 cycle is coming off an electric high school career at the big-time stage that is southern California high school football. He’s a little thin at under 200 pounds but should have no issues filling out in the weight room and despite an elite-level arm, can also make plays with his feet.
Miller is no slouch either, a top-350 player in the 2020 cycle, he was also the no. 13 pro-style passer in the cycle. Miller is more thrower than runner compared to Stroud but has the ability to move. He has a talented arm and has been committed to Ohio State for nearly three years, so the coaching staff has a good idea of what he brings to the table.
Hoak is the odd man out it appears in the room. The fifth-year senior is competing with Stroud and Miller for the backup job for the potential 2020 season. Even if he does win that job, he still sits behind Justin Fields unless an event of an injury.
Hoak does bring experience to the table, as he played three years at Kentucky before transferring to Ohio State. He has completed 19-32 passes between both schools for 271 yards and three touchdowns to one interception. He doesn’t have a ton of game experience but has been around big-time programs for years, so saying he is a leader in that quarterback room is not an overreaction.
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All in all, you can’t go wrong with Justin Fields at quarterback, and it looks like either Stroud or Miller will be the future at quarterback in Columbus. The Buckeyes also will potentially add long-time five-star quarterback prospect and commit in Kyle McCord as an early enrollee in January, so it appears the future is looking bright even with the expected departure of Fields.