Ohio State's C.J. Stroud: QB1 in NFL Draft?

Ohio State Buckeyes signal-caller C.J. Stroud will have the chance to become QB1 at the NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday.

C.J. Stroud has plenty to work on from now until he's named the starting quarterback of whichever franchise takes the risk of drafting him as the hopeful face of the organization for the next decade-plus

Confidence is the last thing he'll need to develop. 

Don't mix confidence with cockiness. Stroud knows he's far from a finished product after spending the two seasons as Ohio State's starting quarterback. Still, every great gunslinger must internally believe they'll be the best one day. 

Among the four potential first-round prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft, Stroud already believes he's there. 

"You can put on my film, I think I've been the best player in college football two years in a row," Stroud said Friday at the Indianapolis Convention Center. "And I think I've consistently done that, and I think, honestly, that I haven't even touched my potential yet. I think that I have a lot more to get better at.

"But I have a lot more to prove, not only to y'all but to myself. And that's something that I plan to do, because I honestly don't think that I've even got close to anything in college yet. So I'm excited to see what I'll do in the NFL."

Stroud will have the chance to solidify that claim Saturday afternoon when he takes the field to throw at the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. While Florida's Anthony Richardson and Kentucky's Will Levis have potential, the race for QB1 likely comes down to either the former Buckeyes star and two-time Heisman finalist or Alabama's Bryce Young. 

Young, who took home the Heisman in 2021, will wait to throw until Alabama's Pro Day on March 23. 

Advantage Stroud.

Young, who threw for over 8,300 yards and 85 touchdowns during his three seasons in Tuscaloosa, will continue to listen to doubters questioning his size when going up against behemoth defensive linemen in the pros. 

Advantage Stroud, who measured in on Ohio State's website at 6-3 and 218 pounds. 

Young might have the hardware, but he's not the only one with ample production behind center. Stroud, who led Ohio State to the College Football Playoff in 2022, threw for over 8,100 yards and 85 touchdowns against 12 interceptions in two years. Last season, he led all FBS quarterbacks in passer rating (177.6) and finished second in touchdowns (41) behind USC's Caleb Williams. 

On paper, Stroud seems to be the complete product. So then why are scouts torn between which passer should run away with the title of top quarterback in class? 

In a sense, he's old school, deemed more a pocket-passer than a do-it-all trailblazer. That's a term he plans on shedding in front of scouts come Saturday and at Ohio State's Pro Day later this month. 

"I think I'm a play-maker; I think I'm very creative," Stroud said. "And I think I'm smart when it comes to protections and things like that, because I solve a lot of issues before they're even there. And that's something I pride myself on."

Stroud called himself a "ball-placement specialist," meaning he relies more on his arm than his legs. His 69.3 career completion percentage ranks first all-time in program history. And without his pinpoint precision, players like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson wouldn't be viewed as game-changers at receiver in the league.

Why is that a problem? The NFL continues to transform and speed up thanks to the development of defenders. Linebackers now move like safeties. The latter might have similar speeds to a slow cornerback. 

Traits like accuracy and touch are put on the back burner while mobility, athleticism and creativity are at the forefront. 

For some teams, it's a requirement. 

While Stroud isn't a stone behind the line of scrimmage, he isn't Michael Vick 2.0 either, a player he called his childhood hero and the reason he wore No. 7. The talking point of nimbleness when it comes to Stroud often points back to the College Football Playoff semifinal game against Georgia. Evading the pressure against a defense filled with future first-rounders, Stroud dazzled, using his legs to pick up yards on the ground or extend plays when under duress. 

Still, when looking back at his career, Stroud only rushed for 136 yards and 26 games. Young, Levis and Richardson all have been praised for their pocket awareness and mobility while under pressure. 

“I feel like I could have done it a lot more,” Stroud said. “But I think if you turn on the film and you really watch what I do and you really look at film, I have used my athleticism, not only just in the Georgia game, where I did it a lot.

Stroud views his next chance on the field as an opportunity to prove that his awareness against the Bulldogs wasn't a one-hit-wonder. 

"I’ll show my athleticism, I’ll show my availability to escape pressure," Stroud said. "I’ve done it before on film, but some people don’t think I can do it, so I’m gonna do it again.”

While Stroud grew up a fan of the Atlanta Falcons icon, he said he now models his game more so after Deshaun Watson when inside the pocket. In terms of accuracy and platform throws, Joe Burrow is his inspiration.

Even if Stroud will never be the reincarnation of dual-threat royalty, that doesn't mean he's destined to fail. He's a man of faith, a master of the football IQ, and a passer who simply might need the right system to flaunt his skills. 

Add a strong performance Saturday, and Stroud very could end up being QB1 on several team's big boards. Even then, he knows there's still room to grow in his journey to the pros. 

Again, it's confidence, not cockiness. 

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