Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields
Q. For the people that watched — obviously the way you finished the rivalry game and then being limited the next week, people that didn’t know you could throw, the way you could throw, does it mean anything to you to show that, you don’t have the full mobility to show what kind of passer you can be.
JUSTIN FIELDS: I’m not out there to prove anything to them. I’m out there to win games. I’m not worried about those people.
Q. The inside blitzes against, say, Wisconsin have provided some issues for you guys. How important is that this week to get that shored up?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think the coaching staff and the players have been working really hard to fix all of our mistakes that we made in the past. So we’re just working as hard as we can just being as clean as possible during practice.
Q. What’s it like for you now? First year starting, you’ve made it this far and given where you were last year, what’s this like for you?
JUSTIN FIELDS: Just coming here is a blessing and just really the opportunity to play in the Fiesta Bowl, it is just great. I just want me and my teammates to get a win.
Q. What’s impressed you most about Clemson’s defense?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think they do a lot of good things on defense. They have great players and great scheme. They’re just an overall great team.
Q. How does it compare to your defense like in practice, what you see? Are there similarities? Are there differences?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think both defenses have good defenses, great coaches. There are a lot of similarities.
Q. Trevor [Lawrence] was talking about when you first met. Can you remember back to that and anything about that?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think we first met at a camp, at a quarterback workout. I’m not really sure. I’ve known Trevor for a while now. He’s a great quarterback, great guy, great person. I’m excited to go up against him. I think it was our ninth-grade year that we met. He’s been a highly talked about guy pretty much his whole career. Everybody knows Trevor’s a great quarterback.
Q. The coincidence of you both playing in this game.
JUSTIN FIELDS: For us, it’s not surprising. We’ve been growing up together a lot. We know how talented we both are. I don’t think it’s surprising for us.
Q. Justin, Ron Veal said that you and Trevor worked out a couple of times together right before you headed off to college. What do you remember about those workouts? Were they competitive at all?
JUSTIN FIELDS: Not really. We just get out there, getting better. I think we work out with guys that are on your level or even kind of in that essence, you’re not really competing but at the same time you are. That’s the way I was going about it. I just think that it makes me throw better and try harder.
Q. What do you like about Trevor’s [Lawrence] game? He said he thinks the two of you are kind of similar.
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think Trevor is more of a dual-threat guy than people give him credit for. I don’t think people give him enough credit for his running game. Of course, he’s a strong arm, great accuracy. I think what people forget about Trevor is his legs. I think he’s kind of a long guy. That’s what I would say about Trevor.
Q. I feel like you guys have similar demeanors, mentalities, both seem to not get caught up in anything.
JUSTIN FIELDS: Trevor [Lawrence] is not a loud guy and neither am I. Kind of our personalities are the same in terms of our leadership and in terms of just kind of going about our business. I think we’re about all business on the field really. I think we do have similarities in that.
Q. I know a lot of quarterbacks, probably every quarterback wants to have success immediately. Obviously your path was a little bit of a different road to get to where you are now. What did you think watching Trevor [Lawrence], a guy you were kind of connected with in high school, see him win a national championship as a freshman?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I was happy for him. I think he deserved it. I know how hard he works. I’ve seen him — seeing him do that out there was great to see. Just really the kind of guy that he is. I don’t think many people know he’s a great guy. He’s humble. I definitely like that about him. Seeing that success that he had last year was just great to see.
Q. Is it motivating at all, knowing — you want to play right away, you want to get on that stage?
JUSTIN FIELDS: Not really. I’m not really worried about. I think players have different dreams. Just because he’s having success right now doesn’t really make me jealous or envy of him. I think people have different paths. It just depends on how you get to that path. As I said before, I was just happy to see him win a championship.
Q. In the last year since it became known you were leaving Georgia, how you have changed as a person? How has this experience changed you in the last year?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I think I’ve matured as a person. Going in life and kind of facing life obstacles has not — not really making a big deal of it. Putting it in God’s hands and just going about it as best as I can. I think I’ve matured mostly as a person. I’m definitely glad I went through it.
Q. Next year, you’re going to be the veteran in this program and in the quarterback room and there will be two young guys, two freshman quarterbacks who will be on campus with you. Are you ready to assume that sort of leadership role for those guys and help guide them?
JUSTIN FIELDS: Yeah, most definitely. I feel that I am the leader of offense. I don’t think that will be a big hassle. Just teaching those guys as they come in and try to learn the offense, I think it will be a big help to both of those guys.
Q. Have you had a chance to speak to C.J. [Stroud]? I know you guys trained.
JUSTIN FIELDS: Yeah, I talked to C.J. a good bit. Last time I talked to him, I congratulated him on the commitment. So I think we’ll have a pretty great relationship at Ohio State.
Q. What’s the one lesson you’re going to try to instill in them the minute they get on campus, him and Jack [Miller]?
JUSTIN FIELDS: The thing is with them, I know what it is going to do with the two quarterback positions. I would just say no matter what happens, don’t get down. Just keep working. Just go out there and play your game.
Q. Justin, one of the things about your passing game this year — we haven’t talked about it a ton — but you guys have taken a lot of deep shots. Flagrant throws have been 20 or more yards down the field. Is that something you look for as a quarterback? Is that just the way things have transpired? Can you give insight into that?
JUSTIN FIELDS: That’s just Coach [Ryan] Day’s offense. You only get so many shots in the game. There are going to be completion plays. It depends on how the game pans out and the way we shift — I would say there’s always going to be shots in the game. And I think every offense on every team has shots in the play calling. I wouldn’t really call our play calling different from others, but it is just the way that we execute them, I think. That’s the biggest difference in them.
Q. How was the whole thing with the Heisman and now coming into the College Football Playoff as a sophomore, your first year as a starter, how — has it been overwhelming, or how have you adjusted to it?
JUSTIN FIELDS: I wouldn’t say it’s been overwhelming. It’s definitely been a great experience being able to go to New York and just kind of experience that with my family and also Chase [Young]. So I would just think of it as a blessing, really. So I don’t think many people get this opportunity in life so I’m just taking it day by day and trying to get the most out of it.
Q. Have you ever gone through sort of a nagging knee injury like this?
JUSTIN FIELDS: No, not really. I sprained my ACL my freshman year. That’s the only other knee injury I had.