COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Rings for the Big Ten and Rose Bowl championships weren't the only bling on the field for the Ohio State Buckeyes during their spring game Saturday.
Punter Drue Chrisman showed up with plans to give as well as receive, presenting an engagement ring to longtime girlfriend Avery Eliason during an on-field halftime proposal. He worked for several weeks to set up the surprise.
Hey @averyanne33, what are you doing for the rest of your life? pic.twitter.com/kNQBDbRaaJ
— Drue Chrisman (@DChrisman91) April 13, 2019
With some help from a teammate's girlfriend and the Ohio State operations staff, Chrisman convinced Eliason that the girlfriends of the team's punters and kickers were all going to attempt field goals as part of a halftime contest Saturday.
Eliason was up first. Chrisman, who also serves as the team's holder on place-kicking attempts, took the field to hold the ball for her with a ring box tucked under his waistband.
"I had the ring on my side, and then when she lined up, I put it down by my foot so she couldn't see it," he said.
Chrisman waved his soon-to-be fiancee to a stop as she approached the ball. He then pulled the engagement ring from its hiding spot, and, with him conveniently already on one knee, popped the question.
"It was honestly perfect," he said. "I couldn't have asked for it go any smoother or better."
Eliason was surprised despite word of the proposal making its way through most of the team's locker room during the past week. She said yes, and they were immediately mobbed by a pack of excited teammates.
The 61,102 fans who showed up for Ohio State's spring game gave them a round of applause.
Chrisman told reporters after the game that he plans to celebrate with their parents on Saturday night before ending his interview as quickly as he could.
"I kind of want to just be with her right now, not gonna lie," he said.
