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Scarlet Sunrise: Justin Fields among Ohio State Class of 2023 spring graduates

IMG_7408by:Andy Backstrom•05/08/23•

andybackstrom

Justin Fields by Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields looks on before the university's commencement ceremony on May 7. (Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Buckeyes football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.

Justin Fields among Ohio State Class of 2023 spring graduates

Chicago Bears starting quarterback Justin Fields has been a Buckeyes alum the last two years. But the 2019 Heisman Trophy finalist became an Ohio State University alum Sunday.

Fields graduated, along with six other current or former Ohio State football players and a total of 190 other current and former Buckeyes student-athletes.

Fields earned a degree in consumer and family financial services. After leaving Ohio State to start his NFL career, he continued his coursework through the degree completion program the Buckeyes athletics department offers.

Fields, who was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, started two seasons under center for the Buckeyes, guiding Ohio State to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances. During the COVID-19-shortened season in 2020, he piloted the program to the national title game, but the Buckeyes lost to Alabama. Still, Fields posted a 20-2 record as Ohio State’s signal caller. Last year, he became just the third NFL quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.

The list of six current Ohio State football players who graduated Sunday was headlined by the starting linebacker duo Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers. Eichenberg earned a degree in real estate, while Chambers received his in finance. Eichenberg led Ohio State with 120 total tackles in 2022, and Chambers was second with 77 total stops. Eichenberg, notably, was a second-team All-American and a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.

In addition to Eichenberg and Chambers, current Buckeyes defensive tackle Jaden McKenzie (human development and family science) and safety Kourt Williams III (communications) earned their degrees. As did former Ohio State punter Michael O’Shaughnessy (consumer and family financial services), who transferred to Michigan State this offseason, and long snapper Bradley Robinson (exercise physiology), who now has three degrees from the university after a seven-year playing career.

Former Ohio State OL Ben Christman transfers to Kentucky

Former Ohio State offensive lineman Ben Christman announced Sunday that he is transferring to Kentucky. The third-year lineman played just nine snaps in a Buckeyes uniform, and they all came in garbage time of a blowout win over Indiana last November.

Christman — the No. 8 interior lineman in the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking — shed his black stripe around the same time the year prior, but his path to playing time in 2023 was steep. Christman, a former four-star prospect from Richfield (Ohio) Revere, began this year’s spring game as the second-team left guard.

Both first-team guard spots are occupied by the Buckeyes’ two returning starters up front: Donovan Jackson on the left side, and Matthew Jones on the right side.

Christman, meanwhile, will now have a chance to jumpstart his career at Kentucky.

Five areas of emphasis for Buckeyes hoops this offseason

Ohio State men’s basketball’s 2023-24 roster is likely set. So now the page turns to areas of emphasis for the Buckeyes this offseason.

Ohio State finished last season on a high note, becoming the lowest seed (13th) in Big Ten Tournament history to reach the semifinals. But, overall, 2022-23 was a disappointing year for the program, which missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016-17 (aside from 2019-20 when the tourney was canceled because of COVID-19).

So where can Ohio State improve in order to return to The Dance in the seventh year of the Chris Holtmann era? Lettermen Row explores here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 119 days

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 203 days

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