Fields caps Georgia football exodus
Georgia’s offense was hit with a four-player exodus of juniors to the NFL that took away the team’s top three receivers and second-leading rusher, and Justin Fields confirmed he is transferring to Ohio State following one season as the Bulldogs’ backup quarterback.
Tailback Elijah Holyfield, tight end Isaac Nauta and wide receivers Riley Ridley and Mecole Hardman said they will enter the draft.
Fields’ much-anticipated announcement gives new Ohio State coach Ryan Day a sublimely talented dual-threat passer to run his offense if Dwayne Haskins Jr. makes an expected jump to the NFL. Fields was the overall No. 2 national prospect in the 2018 recruiting class. He played in all 12 games, completing 27 of 39 passes for 328 yards with four touchdowns, and running for 266 yards and four touchdowns.
NCAA rules would require Fields to sit out next season, though he could request a waiver to become immediately eligible.
Freshman tight end Luke Ford also is transferring, to Illinois.
Also declaring for the draft: Stanford receiver JJ ArcegaWhiteside, Notre Dame All-American cornerback Julian Love and tight end Alize Mack, and Ohio State center Michael Jordan . ... Arizona hired former NFL star DeMarco Murray as its running backs coach . ... Oklahoma hired Ohio State co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Alex Grinch as defensive coordinator . ... Pittsburgh fired offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and wide receivers coach Kevin Sherman . ... Former USC linebacker and team captain Matt Gee died in his sleep Monday in Simi Valley. He was 49 . ... George Welsh, who coached at Virginia for 19 years and retired as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s career victories leader, died at 85.
Penn State suspended basketball coach Patrick Chambers one game for shoving a player during a game . ... Drake senior guard Nick Norton will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury . ... Bob Burrow, a two-time Kentucky AllAmerican whose 17.7 rebounds a game is a school record, died at 84.
Angelique Kerber and Alexandar Zverev sent Germany into the Hopman Cup final with straightsets victories over Ashleigh Barty and Matt Ebden of Australia . ... 18year-old Bianca Andreescu, who beat top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki in the second round of the ASB Classic, ousted Venus Williams 6-7 (1) 6-1, 6-3 to reach the semifinals . ... Roberto Bautista Agut beat top-seeded Novak Djokovic 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4 to reach the Qatar Open final. He’ll face Tomas Berdych . ... Ivo Karlovic, 39, became the oldest player in 42 years to qualify for a tour-level final by beating Steve Darcis 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-3 at the Maharashtra Open. Karlovic will face top-seeded Kevin Anderson, who beat defending champion Gilles Simon 6-3, 7-6 (3). ... Daniil Medvedev reached the semifinals at the Brisbane International by beating Milos Raonic 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4 . ... Maria Sharapova retired from her match at the Shenzhen Open with an injury, giving top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka a spot in the semifinals.
Gary Woodland shot six-under 67 for a three-shot lead at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
The U.S. women’s soccer team opens training camp Monday in Portugal, followed by exhibitions in France and Spain. — Kevin Baxter
Indiana senior defender Andrew Gutman and Stanford sophomore forward Catarina Macario are the Hermann Trophy winners as the top college soccer players.
The No. 1-ranked UCLA gymnastics team beat No. 11 Nebraska 197.250 to 195.700 in its seasonopening meet behind junior Kyla Ross, who won the all-around, vault and floor competitions. Senior Katelyn Ohashi, the defending NCAA floor co-champion, tied Ross and Gracie Kramer on floor with a 9.95.