'Back and Forth!' Buckeyes Kicking Competition Update

After the graduation of Noah Ruggles, it's on to "the next guy" for the Ohio State Buckeyes. And that "next guy" will either be sophomore Jayden Fielding or senior USC transfer Parker Lewis. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day describes the competition as "back and forth."

The last time Buckeyes fans saw a kicker on the field, the usually reliable Noah Ruggles was missing a 50-yard field goal that would've sent Ohio State to the College Football Playoff championship game. It was a bad ending for a stellar Buckeyes career for Ruggles, who recorded the highest field goal percentage in program history.

Now, it's on to "the next guy." And that "next guy" will either be sophomore Jayden Fielding or senior USC transfer Parker Lewis. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day describes the competition as "back and forth." 

“I think we probably will have a good idea of where we’re at by the end of the week,” Day said Monday. “We’ll give them one more opportunity. But we’re charting all the kicks. And the good news is we have two capable kickers there. But we probably need to decide who that’s going to be here by the end of the week.”

Fielding was part of the 2022 Buckeyes recruiting class from IMG Academy. He performed kickoffs in all 13 Ohio State games last year, while Lewis was kicking at USC. The former Trojan converted 26-of-35 field goal attempts with a career-long of 52 yards.

Lewis nailed a 38-yard field goal in this year’s scarlet vs. gray spring game, while Fielding missed his lone attempt from 40 yards away.

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