Over the last few years, the Ohio State football program has been plagued by terrible field goal kicking in big games. Noah Ruggles started it by missing a kick to beat Georgia in the 2022 Sugar Bowl. That kick would have sent them to the National Championship Game.
Jayden Fielding became the starting kicker after that and wasn't any better in big games. During his career with the Ohio State Buckeyes, he never made more than 80 percent of his kicks. In 2023 and 2024 against TTUN, he went just 2-5. He missed two short ones in the 2024 game, too.
Last season, he missed another short kick against Indiana in the Big Ten Championship. In the Cotton Bowl, he missed a field goal, as well. Simply put, Buckeye fans are relieved he's gone. Yet, somehow, he was able to parlay a solid Pro Day into a job as a professional kicker.
Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding signs a deal with the Ottawa Redblacks
Fielding has signed a deal to kick in the Canadian Football League. He has signed with the Ottawa Redblacks, giving him a chance at a professional career as a kicker. Despite a poor career with the Buckeyes, he still gets a chance to kick.
For Ottawa, their kicking situation was seemingly very poor. The only other kicker listed on their roster is Brett Lauther. He was signed in the offseason from Saskatchewan and made just 39 of his 54 attempts last season for them. Fielding will battle him for the starting kicking position.
In the CFL, many more field goals occur. That might not be the ideal scenario for Fielding based on his track record with the Buckeyes. Fans will likely be shocked that Fielding has signed a deal with a professional football team to be a field goal kicker, though.
Perhaps he can turn things around now that he is a professional. Fielding will play his first game with his new team in just a few weeks, if he is able to make the roster.
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