Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud is already putting college football on notice with his latest decree heading into the 2022 season.
The 2022 college football season is a matter of weeks away from kicking off, and one of the teams that is expected to be in contention for the CFP National Championship are the Ohio State Buckeyes. They do have the backing of the AP Preseason Top 25 list, as they are ranked No. 2 in the entire nation.
Ohio State will have C.J. Stroud starting at quarterback, who impressed football fans with his play. If you thought there was no way Stroud could get even better, the third-year signal caller revealed that he is fastest he has ever been.
“I feel the best I’ve ever felt in my life,” Stroud said, h/t Stephen Means of Cleveland.com. “I (hit my personal record) in squat. I PR’d in bench. In my running, I forgot the mileage I hit, but I PR’d in that. I’m the fastest I’ve been since I’ve been alive.”
Ohio State football: C.J. Stroud says that he has gotten even faster, stronger
That is certainly terrifying for opposing defenses that will match up against Ohio State this season. The thing is, Stroud rarely ran in his two seasons with the Buckeyes. To be specific, he ran for a total of 28 yards and one touchdown on 33 attempts.
Stroud got the start in 2021 after Justin Fields, the previous year’s QB1, declared for the NFL Draft to eventually get selected by the Chicago Bears. To say Stroud made an immediate impact is an understatement.
Through 12 games, Stroud threw for 4,133 yards, 44 touchdowns and six interceptions. Perhaps his best game was in the Rose Bowl, where he completed 37-of-46 pass attempts for 573 yards, six touchdowns. and one interception in Ohio State’s thrilling 48-45 win over the Utah Utes. His yardage and touchdowns in that game were Pro Bowl records.
Stroud has plenty of hype surrounding him, as he is considered one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. With another strong season, he could solidify his status as an early first-round draft pick.
Ohio State opens up its season against Notre Dame, who are ranked fifth in the nation by the AP. It will be interesting to see how Stroud performs against the defense coached by Marcus Freeman.
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