Ryan Day gives potentially concerning update that Ohio State has an undecided starter days ahead of CFP game vs. Tennessee
It appears the Ohio State Buckeyes still have a pretty big decision to come to before they host the Tennessee Vols on Saturday in the College Football Playoff. During his media availability on Tuesday afternoon, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day revealed that Ohio State has not settled on who their kicker will be against Tennessee […]
It appears the Ohio State Buckeyes still have a pretty big decision to come to before they host the Tennessee Vols on Saturday in the College Football Playoff.
During his media availability on Tuesday afternoon, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day revealed that Ohio State has not settled on who their kicker will be against Tennessee yet.
Day said that they will decide on a kicker for the game following Wednesday’s practice. Jayden Fielding has handled the kicking duties all season but is being pushed by Austin Snyder after missing two kicks against Michigan.
Not yet knowing who the kicker will be is a bit of a concern, let’s face it. Fielding’s two missed kicks against Michigan were so much more glaring because it came against the Wolverines. If Fielding makes those kicks, the Buckeyes don’t fall to Michigan for a fourth straight time. Now, Ohio State didn’t lose that game because of Fielding but he could have played better. The kicks were both short of 40 yards against Michigan.
On the season, fielding is 9-of-12 on field goals. Ohio State does not kick many field goals, as Day leans on being aggressive on the opponent's side of the field. Last year as a sophomore, Fielding was 16-of-20 on field goals. Fielding has made all 54 of his extra-point kicks.
Snyder has held kickoff duties this season after taking over against Marshall when Fielding kept putting the ball out of bounds. Other than that, Snyder has kicked just three extra points in Columbus. Before coming to Ohio State, Snyder spent the last three seasons at Division II University of Findlay, where he made 31-of-40 field goals with a long of 51 yards.
It sounds like Ohio State will decide on a kicker by the end of the day. The fact that it has taken this long should raise eyebrows.
