Texans Rookies Will Anderson And C.J. Stroud 'Stoked' To Join Forces In Houston

The Houston Texans pulled off a bold move Thursday night with the draft selections of Will Anderson Jr. and C.J. Stroud, who are stoked to be teammates.

HOUSTON — Quarterback C.J. Stroud was stoked when the Houston Texans drafted him with the No. 2 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. 

He was emotional when his life-long dream came to fruition. And Stroud's draft selection became more special, given that the Texans drafted him one spot after the Carolina Panthers landed Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick.

Stroud's excitement rose when he glanced at the videoboard and saw that the Texans were making another selection at pick No. 3, which led to the former Ohio State quarterback teaming up with Alabama's EDGE Will Anderson Jr. 

"It was a special moment just for me right when I got the call," Stroud said. "I tried to lock in and make sure I just was clear in my communication talking to Coach Ryans, talking to Nick, talking to Mr. McNair.

"I'm walking down. I look up, and it says the pick is in, it's the Texans. I'm like, 'I just got picked. That can't be true.' They're like, 'no, they just traded.' I'm like, 'oh, they're going to get Will' I've got the biggest smile on my face. I'm super stoked."

The excitement Anderson and Stroud share to be teammates in Houston stems beyond the respect the two prospects have for each other as competitors.

Anderson and Stroud spent time together in Texas to participate in a photoshoot for Overtime. The event gave Anderson and Stroud a chance to get acquainted. And according to Anderson, he and Stroud joked about becoming teammates with the draft a few weeks away.

The draft was a full circle moment for Anderson and Stroud, who first met each other as high schoolers. They participated in the 2020 All-American Bowl. And in the high school All-Star game, Anderson recorded back-to-back sacks but Stroud said he was not a victim of his future teammate's backfield disruption. 

"God makes no mistakes," Anderson said. "I think it just proved that the Houston Texans were the right place for me. That showed me how much they actually wanted me here. That's all I wanted is to go somewhere where I felt wanted, where I felt like it was family. That's what I'm big on. Just getting that feeling from them, it means everything."

Anderson and Stroud are touted as franchise cornerstones before playing a single snap in the NFL. The rookie prospects will go through the inevitable growing pains throughout the 2023 campaign. But Anderson and Stroud will have each other to lean upon for support, now and in the future. 

"First emotion, to get C.J., I was elated," coach DeMeco Ryans said. "Once we were able to seal that deal and get Will, I was over the moon. I couldn't have been happier, smiling, just being able to get both of these guys was outstanding."

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 You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24

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