Ohio State announced the NCAA’s decision on Friday, which comes less than two months after Fields officially began his transfer process after just one season at Georgia. A contributing factor to his waiver being granted was a Sept. 30 incident in which a member of Georgia’s baseball team directed racial slurs at the quarterback during the Bulldogs’ game against Tennessee.
MORE: Justin Fields could be college football’s most intriguing star in 2019
“I am happy for Justin and his family,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said in a statement. “I also want to express my appreciation to the NCAA for its assistance in getting this matter resolved efficiently and with such a positive outcome for Justin.”
Fields, who is enrolled at Ohio State and participating in winter conditioning drills, will be the favorite to replace Buckeyes quarterback Dwayne Haskins under first-year coach Ryan Day. Haskins in 2018 set Big Ten records in single-season passing yards (4,831) and touchdowns (50), finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Conversely, Fields in 2018 passed for 328 yards and four touchdowns — adding 266 rushing yards and four rushing scores in certain packages — as the backup to Jake Fromm.
Fields was the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback and No. 2 overall player in the 2018 recruiting class, according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings. The five-star recruiting played at Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Ga.
