Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields has been named the 2020 Chicago Tribune Silver Football award winner as the best player in the Big Ten Conference. The award, presented since 1924, is voted on by the conference’s 14 head coaches.
Fields is the 22nd Buckeye to win the award and seventh in the past nine years. He’s the eighth quarterback to do so, joining Dwayne Haskins (2018), J.T. Barrett (2016), Braxton Miller (2012 and 2013), Troy Smith (2006), Joe Germaine (1998), Art Schlichter (1981) and Cornelius Greene (1975).
A junior from Kennesaw, Ga., Fields has led the Buckeyes into Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game against No. 1 Alabama and is coming off one of the most outstanding performances in Ohio State quarterback history. He completed 22 of 28 passes for a career-high 385 yards and tied Ohio State’s single-game record with six touchdown passes in a 49-28 win over No. 2 Clemson at the Sugar Bowl.
For the season, Fields is fourth nationally in completion percentage (73.4) and fifth in passer efficiency rating (186.6). In seven games, he’s thrown for 1,906 yards, 21 touchdowns and six interceptions. In last Friday’s win over Clemson, he moved into second place all-time on Ohio State’s career touchdown passes list with 62 (in his 21st career game).
Fields is a two-time Griese-Brees Big Ten Conference Quarterback of the Year and Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year. He is also a finalist for the Manning Award, which honors the top quarterback in the nation.
Ohio State Silver Football Award Winners
2020 – QB Justin Fields
2019 – DE Chase Young
2018 – QB Dwayne Haskins
2016 – QB J.T. Barrett
2015 – RB Ezekiel Elliott
2013 – QB Braxton Miller
2012 – QB Braxton Miller
2006 – QB Troy Smith
1998 – QB Joe Germaine
1996 – OT Orlando Pace
1995 – RB Eddie George
1984 – RB Keith Byars
1981 – QB Art Schlichter
1975 – QB Cornelius Greene
1974 – RB Archie Griffin
1975 – RB Archie Griffin
1955 – HB Howard Cassady
1950 – HB Vic Janowicz
1945 – FB Ollie Cline
1944 – HB Les Horvath
1941 – FB Jack Graf
1930 – E Wes Fesler
