Report: Coveted quarterback transfer could land at Ohio State

Ryan Day is set to sign his first recruiting class as Ohio State head coach on Wednesday, but an even bigger player acquisition could be on his mind.

The Toledo Blade reported Tuesday morning Ohio State is a potential landing spot for Georgia quarterback Justin Fields if the highly-touted freshman follows through on an interest in transferring:

Ohio State coach Ryan Day is a primary reason for Fields' interest in the Buckeyes.

Fields, who will be the most coveted free agent in college football, is also considering Florida State and Oklahoma.

Fields has not commented on his future plans, at least publicly.

While USA Today reported Monday night "Fields has notified Georgia he intends to transfer," the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday morning "Fields has spoken with the Georgia coaching staff about his intention to explore a transfer."

"I'm not at liberty to discuss anything," Jo Ann Claudrick Fields said via telephone Monday night when reached by DawgNation [the AJC's Georgia site]. "We're not confirming or denying anything. We haven't made a decision." 

Fields was the No. 2-rated quarterback and overall prospect in the nation last season behind current Clemson starter Trevor Lawrence.

He saw time as a true freshman for the Bulldogs this season but only as a backup to Jake Fromm, who will be back next year as a junior.

Complicating things could be Fields’ ability to get a waiver to play next season.

The NCAA has recently been more lenient in granting those, and multiple outlets have reported Fields’ could apply for one based on a highly publicized incident in which a Georgia baseball player referred to Fields with an ethnic slur during a game in the fall.

Ohio State will have an opening for a starting quarterback if Big Ten MVP and offensive player of the year Dwayne Haskins opts to enter the 2019 NFL draft.

>>RELATED: Haskins successfully stiff-arms questions about his future

The cupboard is not bare, but the Buckeyes also are not deep at the position if Haskins leaves.

Four-star prospect Tate Martell backed up Haskins as a redshirt freshman last season while true freshman Matthew Baldwin — also a four-star prospect — worked his way back from a knee injury that ended his high school career.

Ohio State also has West Virginia transfer Chris Chugunov on the roster and is expected to sign Dwan Mathis, a 2019 four-star prospect from Belleville, Mich., on Wednesday.

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