Throughout the most recent years, the competition within college football has become even tighter. There are two crucial transitions for each player in the span of just a couple of years. High school is a place where one would show off his potential, while in college one will further develop their skills in order to boost one’s chances of making the NFL.
Getting picked in the most renowned football league is certainly a one-of-a-kind experience that brings all the pressure in the world. However, many of them struggle to adapt as they are unable to live up to the high expectations set by their previous performance in the NCAAF.
In this article, we will discuss the background of CJ Stroud whose performance has already positively impacted the Ohio State Buckeyes’ chances of winning the title. He leads the NCAAF with 24 touchdowns from the beginning of the season and with 94.8 QBR. According to the majority of the NCAA football odds, the team now has equal odds with Alabama and is currently keeping a slight edge over the Georgia Bulldogs.
With that being said, let’s dive into the player’s records and future projections:
Heisman Trophy
In 2022, there are a handful of players who are expected to fight for the Heisman Trophy. Winning this particular award will automatically make them one of the most attractive catches for any NFL team. With Ohio State, Georgia, and Alabama being top favorites to win the National Championship, we can easily figure out which players we should draw our attention to.
The Crimson Tide rely much on Bryce Young who is the latest Heisman Trophy winner as he snatched the award in 2021 finishing off the season with 4,872 passing yards and 47 touchdowns. Unfortunately, the talented quarterback has had some issues this season suffering minor injuries that will certainly impact his overall performance.
Their closest rivals from last year, Georgia, will have their fate in the hands of Stetson Bennett who is determined to top his career-high numbers. Being the defending champions, the Bulldogs will be under the spotlight throughout the entire season which might take its toll on their chances.
CJ Stroud and NCAA
On the other hand, the Ohio State Buckeyes seem to be quite an extraordinary team in 2022. Their quarterback, CJ Stroud, slowly, but surely makes his way to the Heisman Trophy as he is currently the top favorite to snatch the award.
Stroud is certainly a high-quality player who relies much on his on-field awareness and creative plays. The 21-year-old made the First-team All-Big Ten in 2021, thus making a huge statement for his Junior year at Ohio State University.
Impressive records
His six-touchdown performance against Michigan State has undoubtedly been one of his highlights for the 2022 NCAA season so far. The way he approached any single play of the afternoon is what made the difference in the game. Stroud’s passes have been decent throughout his entire college career as he averaged a 71.9% completion rate last year while sitting back at 70.6% in 2022.
Moreover, he set a new Rose Bowl record with six touchdowns defeating the Utah Utes for the final win 48-45 in an impressive fashion. Coming into this year, he has been named to the Davey O’Brien Award watch list putting him among the most desired picks from college football.
CJ Stroud is certainly on many NFL teams’ watching lists as a potential number-one pick for the upcoming draft. His versatility on the field is a much-needed quality that makes him stand out from the competition.
A hidden diamond in Ohio
His potential might easily get unlocked with the appropriate approach by any head coach in the NFL. At the moment, the Seattle Seahawks are projected to be one of the teams that will be able to draft a top prospect in the upcoming draft. This means that if they somehow select CJ Stroud, the talented quarterback will have the opportunity to learn everything from one of the most renowned head coaches in the league, Pete Carroll.
The 71-year-old specialist was the main reason for the Seahawks’ maiden Super Bowl success in 2013. He was also a crucial figure in developing Russell Wilson who has had a phenomenal swing in Seattle. Even though his most recent performances for the Denver Broncos might be suggesting that he is currently struggling to live up to the expectations, Wilson owes his career to Carroll.
Considered as one of the top prospects of the Class of 2023, CJ Stroud can easily build a fantastic legacy at Ohio State University. The 21-year-old quarterback’s decision-making has been unparalleled, while his leadership skills on the field have been enviable.
His promising future is just one step away, but this step would require a whole new level of dedication and top-notch performance. The process of making the transition from college football to the NFL is among the toughest challenges a player faces throughout his career.
Santiago Leon is the Founder and CEO of the Sports Cast. He covers NFL, NBA, and world soccer. He’s also founder of sleon productions, which he specializes in technology and serves clients with solutions to make their business grow.