Buckeyes Now

C.J. Stroud Spends Night Before Pro Day Supporting Friends On Ohio State Softball Team

Ahead of Wednesday's Pro Day, former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud wasn't at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, but certainly within eyesight of it.

Casey Smith

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Former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud's name has been everywhere in NFL draft analysts' conversations.

Stroud is in their tweets, in their analyses and near the top of their mock draft boards.

He's had an LED spotlight shone down on him for the past two years as the starting quarterback at Ohio State.

However, Tuesday night — a little over 12 hours before Ohio State's Pro Day where he can solidify his place as a potential No. 1 overall selection in the NFL Draft — he was all alone.

Stroud sat by himself down the third base line in the grandstands at Buckeye Field for Ohio State softball's 2023 home opener against in-state rival Kent State.

Why, before one of the biggest days in the pre-draft process, was Stroud at a softball game?

"I have some friends on the team," Stroud told BuckeyesNow.

He had his hood up over his head to try and remain incognito, but he couldn't hide forever.

When fans realized they were amongst one of the program's best-ever quarterbacks, they came over, had conversations and took pictures with Stroud, who didn't deny or turn away a single one.

He stayed well after the game to talk and laugh with his friends on the team, Kami Kortokrax, McKenzie Bump, Reagan Milliken, Mariah Rodriguez and Taylor Pack, whom he met at the softball team's indoor practices at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

"They're funny as heck," Stroud said.

This isn't an uncommon thing from when he was a student at Ohio State either, Stroud said.

"Sometimes I would like to sleep when I went here, sneak around, basketball games, baseball games, softball, volleyball went to some games too, just to get away from my apartment," Stroud said. "It's good to come support."

Stroud didn't want to discuss football, citing that he's been around it so much, but that Tuesday night served as a way to slow down and get away from things ahead of his Pro Day.

Ohio State softball went on to win the game in walk-off fashion with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

"Good seventh inning," Stroud said. "I think I'm good luck."

As "Carmen Ohio" played after the game, Stroud sang along and, like it was second nature, made the "O-HI-O" hand motions to close out the alma mater.

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Casey Smith
CASEY SMITH

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