Ohio State: What are Buckeyes going to do about a fourth quarterback?
Have a question about Ohio State recruiting? This is the place for you, five days a week. Submit your questions on Twitter or on the Lettermen Row forums. Check in daily to see what’s on the mind of Buckeyes fans all over the country. Tuesday’s question is about the quarterback situation and what the Buckeyes are doing to restock that position.
Ohio State Recruiting Question of the Day
Any updates on the 4th scholarship QB front for 2019?
— Michigan Buckeye (@UMich_Buckeye) February 4, 2019
Of course, the need for another quarterback has come up for Ohio State after Tate Martell left for Miami.
We have written in recent weeks about Texas A&M grad-transfer Nick Starkel and the possibility about adding him to the Ohio State roster, as well as a few other quarterback options.
Ryan Day talked in December about why he wants a minimum of four scholarship quarterbacks at all times.
“We always want to have four,†Day said in mid-December. “It’s going to start off with Dwayne [Haskins] and seeing what his decision is, and then we’re going to go from there.â€
The departure of Haskins left Ohio State with two options: Find another 2019 quarterback to recruit on short notice or wait out signing day to see what shakes loose from the graduate-transfer tree. With the second signing period kicking off on Wednesday and no new prep quarterbacks popping up on the radar, it appears the Buckeyes are going into wait-and-see mode.
First, they’re going to wait-and-see if Justin Fields is ruled immediately eligible, because that’s the most important piece of the quarterback puzzle. If he’s not eligible for some reason? Then Ohio State likely needs to find two new quarterbacks for the 2019 season. If Fields is eligible as expected, there’s a slight chance the Buckeyes stand pat with three scholarship quarterbacks this season. The vast majority of graduate transfers are looking for a starting opportunity, and if Fields and Matthew Baldwin are both healthy and available for Ohio State, none of the remaining transfers are likely to usurp either as the starter.
If Justin Fields is eligible, Ohio State may not need another quarterback this year. (Birm/Lettermen Row)
It was not until mid-August that the Buckeyes added Chris Chugunov from West Virginia prior to last season. Waiting until after spring football to see exactly what Ohio State needs at quarterback is the most likely outcome at this point.
The Buckeyes shouldn’t worry too much, though. If Justin Fields and Matthew Baldwin are each available, Ohio State will have one of the best quarterback duos in the country.
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