The Buckeyes landed a pledge from one of the country’s top-rated placekickers on Tuesday night.
Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy kicker Jayden Fielding announced on Tuesday evening that he has committed to Ohio State as a preferred walk-on over similar opportunities at Cincinnati, Florida State, Georgia, Rutgers and Virginia Tech.
The 6-foot-0 and 145-pound Fielding, who is considered the seventh-best kicker in his class by Chris Sailer Kicking, made every field goal he attempted this season, including a season-long 50-yarder. He also sent 91 percent of his kickoffs for touchbacks.
Fielding was invited by special teams coordinator Parker Fleming to attend the Buckeyes’ win over Michigan State on Nov. 20 and made the trip with his parents and grandfather. It was at that time that he was extended the walk-on offer.
It’s unclear if fifth-year seniors Noah Ruggles and Dominic DiMaccio will return for their extra year of eligibility, so Fielding could potentially compete with redshirt freshman Jake Seibert and freshman walk-on Garrison Smith to be the Buckeyes’ starting kicker next fall.
He will enroll in classes in January with the goal of earning a scholarship in the future.
-----
Be sure to check out our new message boards, Buckeye Forums. We'd love to have you part of the conversation during the season.
-----
You may also like:
-----
Be sure to stay locked into BuckeyesNow all the time!
Join the BuckeyesNow community!
Subscribe to the BuckeyesNow YouTube channel
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @AndrewMLind
Follow BuckeyesNow on Twitter: @BuckeyesNowSI
Like and follow BuckeyesNow on Facebook!