Junior kicker Jayden Fielding’s starting job is uncertain after Ohio State’s 13-10 loss to Michigan. Fielding missed two crucial kicks against Michigan from 34 yards and 38 yards respectively, which accounted for the difference in the game.
If Fielding isn’t selected as the team’s starting kicker, it will likely be senior kicker Austin Snyder, who has attempted and made three extra points this season.
During a press conference at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Wednesday, head coach Ryan Day said the team hasn’t decided on the kicker position.
“Today in practice is our field goal day, so those guys will get out there in practice,” Day said. “We’ll see how today goes, we’ll see how the rest of the week goes and then we’ll make a decision at the end of the week how we want to enter the game. Not that that’s any different than any other week, but we’ll certainly be taking a hard look at how it goes today.”
It’s been an unusual season for the League City, Tx. native. Fielding first ran into trouble during Ohio State’s 49-14 win over Marshall on Sept. 21, when he sailed three kickoffs out of bounds. Fielding attributed his poor kickoffs to an injury, and he appeared to put his injury and struggles behind him with an outstanding kicking performance against Penn State, where he made field goals from 46 yards and 39 yards in the team’s 20-13 win. On the season, Fielding has decent numbers, he’s made 9 of 12 field goals, with the 46-yarder against Penn State as his long.
Fielding’s struggles came at the worst time though, and his misses against Michigan were only amplified due to the offense’s struggles in the red zone, but according to Day, his teammates haven’t wavered in their support for him.
“I think his teammates have been good in terms of support and knowing that we wouldn’t have put him in the game if we didn’t trust him,” Day said. “He also knows that he’s got do his job, everyone’s got to do their job around here and it’s very important to win the games that everyone does their job. His job is to make field goals and so he’s got to have a good day today, and Austin will be right in there too.”
