PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Justin Fields smiled when knowledgeable {that a} camper at his latest youth soccer camp in a Columbus, Ohio suburb mentioned they plan to modify from following their favourite NFL staff to observe him as he begins his profession with the Chicago Bears. Fields, the No. 11 general decide within the 2021 draft, left Ohio State as one of the completed gamers in program historical past. Alongside together with his play on the sector, Fields’ spearheading of a petition for the Massive Ten to have a 2020 season etched his title in Ohio State soccer lore. 

“It feels good,” Fields mentioned in regards to the camper’s remark. “The extra followers that we are able to get, the higher. I am simply going to attempt to convert all these youngsters to be Bears followers, for certain.” 

Taking part in for a football-crazed metropolis is nothing new for Fields. In Columbus, Fields routinely rose to the stress related to high-stakes faculty soccer. The Offensive MVP of this yr’s Sugar Bowl, Fields received 20 of his 22 begins at Ohio State, together with two Massive Ten titles and consecutive appearances within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Fields received over Buckeye followers together with his expertise in addition to his toughness (he threw an OSU bowl recreation document six landing passes in opposition to Clemson regardless of struggling a nasty hit to his midsection throughout the second quarter). 

Fields mentioned he’s already feeling the love from a fanbase that’s determined for a longterm franchise quarterback. 

“I adore it in Chicago,” Fields mentioned. “I’ve solely been to Chicago, earlier than I obtained drafted, one time, and I actually wasn’t within the metropolis. Town is good. In fact, the fan base is de facto loopy about their Bears. Undoubtedly really feel the love from the fan base. The coaches are nice. Everyone’s nice on the group. I am undoubtedly excited.”

Ohio’s appreciation of Fields was on show on Sunday, as a slew of younger gamers flocked to Pickerington North Excessive College to be across the former Heisman Trophy finalist. There was no scarcity of followers sporting Fields’ new Bears jersey. 

“I simply got here right here to get higher, however I believed it was fairly cool to get to satisfy him,” mentioned Avery Deshong, a sophomore quarterback at close by Mount Vernon Excessive College. “His staff appears fairly good.”

Fields’ new staff does certainly look improved following what was largely a disappointing 2020 season. Whereas they did make the playoffs for the second time in three years beneath coach Matt Nagy, Chicago slogged by means of a .500 common season earlier than meekly exiting the playoffs within the wild-card spherical. Chicago responded by including vital items to an offense that was twenty third within the NFL in scoring and thirty first in crimson zone effectivity final season. Together with signing former Patriots receiver Damiere Byrd, the Bears spent their first draft picks on offense. The Bears additionally signed former Bengals Professional Bowl quarterback Andy Dalton. Barring harm, Nagy mentioned the plan is for Fields to look at and be taught behind Dalton, who earned his second alternative to begin for an NFL franchise after taking part in nicely in reduction of Dak Prescott throughout his one season in Dallas. 

The hope in Chicago is that the Bears’ offense can higher complement a protection that boasts a number of the NFL’s finest gamers in linebackers Khalil Mack, Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan and free security Eddie Jackson. The Bears have their work lower out for them, nonetheless, as they’ve the league’s third-toughest schedule based mostly on their opponents’ cumulative 2020 win/loss whole. Chicago’s path to the playoffs will possible get simpler if Aaron Rodgers decides to not attend the Packers‘ coaching camp after skipping necessary minicamp earlier this offseason. 

Together with his first NFL coaching camp on the horizon, Fields was requested to mirror on his legacy at Ohio State. In giving his reply, Fields supplied extra perception into his intangible strengths that contributed to the Bears buying and selling him to accumulate him within the draft. 

“I need to be remembered as a quarterback, a teammate, that was all the time there for his guys, all the time there for his teammates, all the time prepared to do no matter,” Fields mentioned. “Not essentially on-the-field stuff. In fact, I need to be remembered as an excellent participant, however that is not an important factor to me. Crucial factor to me is what sort of individual I’m and the way did I have an effect on different folks. That is how I need to be remembered probably the most.”