CFB: Ohio State Announced CJ Stroud as Their Starting Quarterback

The Ohio State Buckeyes have found their new quarterback. C.J. Stroud will get the start under-center to open up Ohio State’s season versus Minnesota. 

On Saturday, Ryan Day made it official as he announced that the redshirt freshman will be running the show in Columbus."We are going to name C.J. Stroud the starting quarterback for the Minnesota game," Day said.

Day talked about why Stroud has put himself in this position to win the starting job. "I thought he, over the body of work between the spring and then also through preseason, separated himself with his decision making, his leadership skills, his accuracy, and so now we’ve got to go prepare to go play a game,” Day said. “But proud of him, happy for him." 

The media was convinced that he would win the job and that he was always leading the competition due to being the back-up to Justin Fields as a true freshman. Stroud is in a unique position and has the opportunity to cement himself as one of the next dominant Ohio State quarterbacks. He was mentored by Justin Fields and he has big shoes to fill trying to replace Field’s success. 

The California native was a late bloomer, but he was regarded as one of the top recruits in the country since his junior year. Stroud won MVP honors at the Elite 11 Competition, one of the highest high school football player accomplishments. Stroud is a dual-threat quarterback, not only does he have a strong accurate arm but he is great with his legs. He proved that when he saw action against Michigan State in 2020 when he broke out for a 48-yard touchdown run. 

Luckily for Stroud, he is surrounded by people that will make him better. He has arguably two of the top 5 receivers in the nation in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Stroud has an offensive line that is coming in as the highest-graded line in the Big Ten with Thayer Munford, Nicholas Petit-Frere, and Harry Miller all returning. Stroud was ready to hear his name called and was pleased when he heard the news. 

Day said, “He was excited for sure and fired up,” Day said. “He knows that this is an opportunity and not an accomplishment.”

Writer

-By: Justin Howard