Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud announced via social media that he will forgo his senior season and enter his name into the 2023 NFL Draft.
In his statement, Stroud says, “This process has been difficult, and the decision, one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make. As a kid, I dreamed of playing football at the highest level and after much prayer, I’ve made the decision that it’s time to turn those dreams into a reality.”
Despite speculation of a massive NIL deal in place to keep Stroud around, it appears that his respect for the team and his teammates is what made him strongly consider returning.
Stroud and the Buckeyes’ season didn’t end the way they hoped, falling short of the National Championship in the Peach Bowl. Ohio State lost to Georgia 42-41. Georgia went on to win the championship 65-7.
Coming out of high school, Stroud was a four-star prospect and was ranked 42 nationally, according to 247 Sports. He committed to Ohio State over top programs such as Georgia, Michigan, and USC.
Ultimately, Stroud finishes his career at Ohio State with many accolades under his belt. He was a two-time finalist for the Heisman Trophy award in 2021 and 2022. Along with that, he was a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, the Maxwell Award, and the Davey O’Brien Award in his final season with the Buckeyes.
Based off of ESPN’s draft prospect rankings, Stroud ranks as the fourth-best overall prospect, and the second-best quarterback.
Furthermore, Stroud appears locked into the top 10 selections of this years NFL Draft. And with many teams looking for their franchise-altering quarterback, there’s a great chance that happens.
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