Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields stayed in Friday’s Sugar Bowl despite a hard hit from Clemson linebacker James Skalski.
The play, which occurred midway through the second quarter, saw Skalski ram his helmet into Fields’ back while the quarterback was rushing the ball downfield. Fields was in visible pain after the hit but stayed in the game and two plays later threw a nine-yard touchdown to Chris Olave to extend the Buckeyes’ lead to 28-14. He followed that up with a 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to end the first half.
Skalski was given a targeting penalty and ejected from the game for the hit.
Fields, a finalist for the 2019 Heisman Trophy, is expected to be a first round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. In six games for the Buckeyes this season, the 21-year-old threw 1,521 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions.
In a half-time interview with ESPN, OSU head coach Ryan Day said Fields has “the heart of a lion” and would be returning to the field for the second half. The decision to leave Fields in the game drew mixed reactions on social media, with some celebrating his toughness and others worried he might suffer a more serious injury.
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) January 2, 2021
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