Ohio State fans have grown increasingly frustrated with the Buckeyes' struggles at the kicker position, and there is no one else to blame but head coach Ryan Day. The issue is not just the inconsistency of current kicker Jayden Fielding but the lack of urgency or success in recruiting a replacement through the transfer portal—a tool that has reshaped college football recruiting in recent years.
Fielding, now in his second season as Ohio State’s kicker, has become a symbol of frustration for fans and analysts alike. His missed field goals in critical situations, particularly in high-stakes games like Michigan, have left Ohio State in precarious positions.
Most notably, his record of never making a field goal of 48 yards or longer looms large. Over the past two seasons, Fielding has gone 10 for 16 on attempts from 40 yards or more and has never converted a 50-yard attempt—numbers that simply don’t meet the standards of a program aiming for national championships.
Ryan Day and his staff are well aware of these shortcomings, and the transfer portal provides an obvious solution: find a proven, consistent kicker who can make long-range field goals when the pressure is on. But the Buckeyes have failed to capitalize on this opportunity, striking out on multiple targets who could have solved their kicking woes.
Ohio State was reportedly eyeing several top transfer kickers, but they missed out on all of them. According to reports from Bucknuts’ Bill Kuerlic and Mick Walker of Letterman Row, Eastern Michigan’s Jesús Gómez, Charlotte’s Stephen Rusnak, and Western Kentucky’s Lucas Carneiro were all on the Buckeyes' radar. However, each of these kickers committed elsewhere, with Gómez heading to Arizona State, Rusnak to Cincinnati, and Carneiro to Ole Miss.
Perhaps one of these players has yet to sign and could de-commit, but that is unlikely. These losses are even more painful when you consider the caliber of the kickers Ohio State was pursuing. Rusnak, for example, was perfect in 2024, going 11 for 11 at Charlotte, including 5 for 5 on field goals of 40 or more yards and an impressive 3 for 3 on 50-yarders, with a long of 54 yards. Carneiro, equally impressive, went 18 for 19 at Western Kentucky, converting 9 for 9 on field goals of 40 or more yards and 6 for 6 on 50-yard attempts, also with a long of 54 yards.
The failure to land any of these kickers reflects poorly on Ryan Day's overall approach to addressing the position. While every program faces competition for top talent in the transfer portal, Ohio State’s inability to secure a reliable kicker speaks to a larger issue.
Special teams have repeatedly been a weak link under Day's tenure, with the kicking game often proving unreliable in critical moments. Whether it’s failing to recruit the right talent out of high school or missing out on proven performers in the transfer market, the lack of attention to the kicker position is becoming a glaring blind spot.
Ohio State fans, who expect to compete for national championships know this is not enough. Kicking is not a glamorous aspect of the game, but it is essential—especially for a team that frequently finds itself in close, high-pressure matchups. Fielding’s shortcomings, combined with Ohio State’s failure to secure a better alternative, create a situation where fans have little confidence in the kicking game heading into the 2024 season.
The most concerning part is that this problem is not new. Ohio State’s kicking issues have been evident for years, and yet little has been done to fix it. Ryan Day’s reluctance or inability to prioritize this area of need now leaves the Buckeyes in a situation where they may be forced to bring Fielding back for another year. This raises serious concerns about Ohio State’s ability to execute in key moments, especially against rivals like Michigan.
For a coach with Day's track record, these repeated failures are hard to justify. If the Buckeyes find themselves once again in a situation where a game is decided by a missed field goal, the blame will fall squarely on Day’s shoulders for not addressing the issue when he had the chance.
In the modern college football landscape, where the transfer portal offers teams the chance to patch holes with proven talent, Ohio State’s failure to secure a top-tier kicker is not just disappointing—it’s inexcusable. Ryan Day and his staff must find a solution quickly, or the 2024 season could be defined by the same special teams woes that have haunted the program in recent years.
If Day can’t fix the kicker problem, it could become another factor that chips away at his credibility as Ohio State’s head coach. Fans are done being patient. Day MUST bring in a proven kicker, or he could find himself missing out on another national championship in the future.