Buckeyes Now

Buckeyes C.J. Stroud Leaves Little Doubt As QB1 Following Pro Day

In his final outing at Ohio State, C.J. Stroud answered any critics that doubt his status as the top passer in this year's draft class.

Cole Thompson

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C.J. Stroud is at his best when it's time for a curtain call. Does anyone else remember his final game at Ohio State against Georgia down in Atlanta?

For roughly 30 minutes, Stroud stepped back and went through the motions of being a passer at Ohio State's Pro Day Wednesday afternoon. Some throws were short. Others were intermeidate. 

But it was the final throw of the afternoon that caught the eye of scouts and reporters watching on from the sides. As a coach faked pass rushed him, Stroud escaped the pocket a delivered a booming throw downfield into the hands of Jayden Ballard. 

Some would argue the throw was over 50 yards. Others would say more. Regardless of the length, the pass itself is what front offices and coaching staffs will discuss from now until they're on the clock for the 2023 NFL Draft. 

The touch? On-point. 

The accuracy? Superb.

The decision-making? Flawless. 

Four quarterbacks are currently projected to be in the running for the title of QB1, and all have one exemplifying trait that makes them stand out. For Stroud, it's the pass itself.

"That last one felt good," Stroud said following his throwing session at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. "There were a couple of ones that I missed, but I thought I overall had a pretty good day. [The ball] came out of my hand really well." 

Fourteen prospects that once wore the Scarlet and Gray performed in front of 30 teams one last time as teammates during the Buckeyes' Pro Day. Attention will be on receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who proved his quickness wouldn't be a problem at the next level. Most teams looking to upgrade at offensive tackle likely left impressed with Paris Johnson Jr.'s potential. 

But most of the attention will be on Stroud, Ohio State's two-time Heisman finalist who looks to become the first passer in program history to be selected with the first overall pick. And yes, that dream could be a reality. 

There in the front row stood the Carolina Panthers. All Panthers of note were in attendance, including owner David Tepper, his wife, Nicole, and general manager Scott Fitterer. Carolina used four draft picks and receiver D.J. Moore to package a deal with the Chicago Bears to move up for the No. 1 pick — likely for who it believes is the No. 1 passer. 

On Tuesday, Carolina took Stroud out to dinner. On Wednesday, Stroud wined and dined first-year head coach Frank Reich, Fitterer, and Tepper with his accuracy and quick-cut decision-making. 

“I appreciate them coming out,” Stroud said of the Panthers' involvement. “It means a lot. I’m definitely just trying to showcase my God-given talent. I put in the work to be the best I can be. I’m blessed to be out here.” 

Nothing should be set in stone for now. Stroud was the first of the four to let it rip at their pro days. On Thursday, scouts will travel to Tuscaloosa to watch Alabama's Bryce Young throw for the first time since his win in the Sugar Bowl. On Friday, others will visit Lexington to see Kentucky's Will Levis. 

Next Thursday, Tepper, Fitterer and others could be floored by the potential of Florida's Anthony Richardson at the Gators' Pro Day in Gainesville. According to multiple reports, Richardson might have the inside track of landing in Charlotte due to his athletic skills and raw talent. 

What Carolina does is out of Stroud's hands, so he feels no need to obsess over something he can't control. 

"My job is to go out here and do the best I can," Stroud said. "I’m competing every day to be the version of myself like coach [Ryan] Day always taught us to do. Whatever happens, happens. It’s not in my control, so there’s no reason to stress.”

Day called Stroud's performance "as good of a workout as I’ve seen.” It's fair to say there's a bit of bias due to the nature of the relationship, but Day's been around plenty of great passers. 

That's not just at Ohio State, either. Day spent time on both the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers' staff before heading to Columbus. Before that, he had two stints at Boston College, one of which featured a pro day showcase from Matt Ryan, who'd go on to win an MVP and culminate a Hall of Fame-worthy career in the NFL. 

To say Stroud will have a similar career to Ryan is far-fetched. Location matters for a quarterback's development, but so does proper coaching. Ryan became a Super Bowl-bound playmaker once the Atlanta Falcons hired Kyle Shanahan as their offensive coordinator. 

Even if Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown — or any coordinator for that matter — isn't a duplicate of the 49ers coach, Day believes Stroud has everything needed to thrive in the pros. 

"He has the right makeup, just in terms of who he is as a person, his leadership and his ability to handle himself in a professional manner,” Day said. “But then on the field, his ability to throw the ball in the pocket, I think it projects really, really well into the NFL.

"He keeps his eyes downfield, even when the pocket’s broken down. We’ve seen that time and time again here at Ohio State, but that’s going to carry over to the NFL because he just has a great feel in there.”

As Stroud walked off the field one final time as a Buckeye, he embraced his mother, Kim, and smiled. Everything is now a waiting game for the Stroud family, but C.J.'s been here before. 

He waited two years to blossom into a starter at Rancho Cucamonga High School in California. 

He waited a year to start at Ohio State, and another to make the College Football Playoff. 

Stroud might not have to wait long to hear his name called on NFL Draft night on April. 27. The kid who lives for the curtain call moments was able to deliver one final time as a Buckeye. 

And his last throw in Columbus? That could make him the first overall pick. 

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Cole Thompson
COLE THOMPSON

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