NFL Exec Ranks C.J. Stroud over Justin Fields but Prefers Bryce Young, Will Levis
Dec 26, 2022
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 12: Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) on the field during the fourth quarter of the college football game between the Indiana Hoosiers and Ohio State Buckeyes on November 12, 2022, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
A national title isn't the only thing Ohio State star C.J. Stroud has to play for this bowl season.
The MMQB's Albert Breer spoke with an NFC executive who compared Stroud favorably to Chicago Bears star Justin Fields but didn't rank him as the No. 1 quarterback in the 2023 NFL draft class.
"I like him better than I did Fields," the executive said. "But he's still third in the group [behind Alabama's Bryce Young and Kentucky's Will Levis] for me."
Stroud has thrown for 3,340 yards, more than 1,000 fewer than in 2021, along with 37 touchdowns and six interceptions this season.
The third-year signal-caller is still on track to be a Day 1 pick this spring, but he might have ceded some ground to the competition. He's the No. 9 overall player and No. 2 quarterback beyond Young on Bleacher Report's 2023 big board.
The postseason was a great showcase for Stroud in 2021. He went 37-of-46 for 573 yards, six touchdows and one interception in Ohio State's Rose Bowl victory over Utah.
A similar showing against Georgia in the Peach Bowl on Saturday is bound to get noticed by NFL talent evaluators.
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Todd McShay 2023 NFL Draft Big Board: Will Anderson Jr., Bryce Young Top Rankings
Dec 13, 2022
OXFORD, MS - NOVEMBER 12: Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) lines up on defense during a college football game against the Mississippi Rebels on November 12, 2022 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Will Anderson Jr. remains the top prospect in the 2023 NFL draft, according to ESPN's Todd McShay.
The Alabama pass-rusher made the Associated Press All-America First Team for the second straight year after tallying 10 sacks this season, and he should hear his name called early in the upcoming draft.
Crimson Tide teammate Bryce Young is also a contender to go No. 1 overall as McShay's top quarterback available.
Here is the top of McShay's big board heading into bowl season.
1. Will Anderson Jr., OLB, Alabama
2. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
3. Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
4. Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech
5. C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
6. Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
7. Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
8. Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson
9. Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
10. Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
Quarterback rankings will see significant debate leading up to the draft, but McShay sees Young as the top player at the position and the second-best player in the class.
The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner's numbers declined this season, although he remained productive with 3,007 passing yards and 27 touchdowns with only five interceptions.
He stays ahead of Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, who dropped two spots in McShay's overall rankings.
Stroud has 37 touchdowns with only six interceptions this year, but he struggled in his last game against Michigan's elite defense with two picks in a 45-23 loss. The pressure is on him to improve his play in the College Football Playoff against Georgia.
Kentucky's Will Levis remains the third quarterback on the board (13th overall) while Florida's Anthony Richardson is fourth (32nd overall). Neither player had a great year by the numbers, but both display traits that impress NFL scouts.
McShay's rankings differ significantly from those of ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., who lists Levis as the top quarterback in the class and No. 3 overall.
Bleacher Report's Scouting Department ranks Levis fourth among quarterbacks behind Young, Stroud and Richardson.
Texas running back Bijan Robinson also rose on McShay's big board, climbing from eighth to sixth overall. Though teams might not prioritize running backs in the draft, Robinson is hard to ignore after totaling 1,580 rushing yards, 314 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns.
Todd McShay 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Levis Land in Top 6
Dec 13, 2022
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 26: Bryce Young #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after their 49-27 win over the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Based on the current order for the 2023 NFL draft, ESPN's Todd McShay is projecting three of the first six picks will be quarterbacks.
In his latest mock draft released Tuesday, McShay has Alabama's Bryce Young going No. 1 overall to the Houston Texans. He projects the Detroit Lions will use the No. 4 pick on Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, with Kentucky's Will Levis going to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 6.
Young's size has become a talking point as we get closer to the draft, but McShay cited several other areas in which the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner excels that make him an elite NFL prospect.
"Scouts will knock Young's frame (he's listed at 6-foot), but there is no debating his high-level processing ability, excellent ball placement to all three levels of the field and mobility when forced to go off schedule," McShay wrote. "He has regularly lifted a lackluster offensive supporting cast in Alabama this season, and he can do it again with the Texans."
The Texans' roster is in such dire straits they could almost go in any direction, and it would make sense. But having the No. 1 pick in a year when it looks like there are multiple quarterbacks worth taking at that spot should make their decision easier.
The Lions face a potentially interesting dilemma. They have put themselves into playoff contention with five wins in their last six games. Jared Goff is playing at a high level with 3,352 passing yards and 22 touchdowns and is surrounded by a wealth of talent on offense.
If the Lions want to ride with Goff, who has two years remaining on his contract, they could look to add help to a defense that is allowing the second-most points per game (26.7).
But the Lions are also playing with house money right now because the No. 4 pick they have is from the Los Angeles Rams as part of the Matthew Stafford trade. They also have their own pick, which is currently at No. 16 overall.
If Stroud is the second-best quarterback in the class and is on the board when the Lions make their first pick, why not take the shot? He will be walking into a situation with a great offensive line to protect him and wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams on the outside.
Levis and the Falcons are an interesting pairing because we're still waiting to see what Desmond Ridder can do in head coach Arthur Smith's offense.
Ridder was the second quarterback taken in the 2022 NFL draft at No. 74 overall. He is set to take over as Atlanta's starter in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints.
Even though it will only be a four-game trial run for Ridder, the team could alter its draft plans if he shows the talent that made him the top-ranked quarterback in the 2022 class for some draft analysts.
McShay noted Levis "still needs some developing, especially when it comes to decision-making, but the traits are outstanding."
It seems unlikely Levis will make it out of the top 10 at this point. Despite a lackluster senior season with 2,406 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, his skill set is proving to be tantalizing for NFL teams.
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College Football Awards 2022: Results, Winners, Highlights and Twitter Reaction
Dec 9, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 02: USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) looks on before the Pac-12 Conference championship game between the Utah Utes and the USC Trojans at Allegiant Stadium on December 2, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The College Football Awards doled out its annual collection of distinctions on Thursday night. Below, we'll go through the night's big winners.
Maxwell Award (college player of the year): Caleb Williams, USC
Quite the day for Williams, who also won the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and AP Player of the Year award:
The USC gunslinger threw for 4,075 yards, 37 touchdowns and just four interceptions while completing 66.1 percent of his passes. He was a threat on the ground as well, rushing for 367 yards and an additional 10 scores.
Williams is arguably the front-runner for the Heisman, so winning the Maxwell didn't come as a major surprise.
Chuck Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year): Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama
Anderson is a force of nature off the edge, accumulating 51 tackles (17 for loss), 10 sacks, 12 quarterback hurries and an interception on the season. And that was despite facing regular double-teams this season after registering 17.5 sacks in 2021.
Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award (best quarterback): Max Duggan, TCU
This was a loaded category, with Ohio State's C.J. Stroud and USC's Williams also presenting strong cases. Both are Heisman finalists.
But Duggan, also a Heisman finalist along with Georgia's Stetson Bennett, has torched defenses all season, throwing for 3,321 yards, 30 touchdowns and just four interceptions while completing 64.9 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 404 yards and six scores.
TCU QB Max Duggan has won the Davey OāBrien Award.
First TCU player to win the QB honor that is named after the Horned Frog great.
Oluwatimi didn't allow a sack all season and only two pressures, headlining an offensive line that helped Michigan win the Big Ten title and a berth in the CFP. The Wolverines rushed for 243 yards per game this year, sixth in the country. Oluwatimi aided that charge.
Doak Walker Award (premier running back): Bijan Robinson, Texas
Every team knew Texas was going to build its game plan around Robinson, and it didn't matter. He still rushed for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns, adding 19 catches for 314 yards and another two scores. He rushed for 200 or more yards twice on the season.
This was perhaps a touch of an upset, with Notre Dame's Michael Mayer posting superior stats (67 catches for 809 yards and nine touchdowns). But the award went to Bowers.
Biletnikoff Award (outstanding receiver): Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
Another slight surprise, with Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. often considered the top wideout in the nation after catching 72 passes for 1,157 yards and 12 scores.
Jalin Hyatt: 8 REC TDs on 20+ yard throws this season
In a bit on an upset, Marvin Harrison Jr. was not selected as the winner of the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nationās top receiver. Tennesseeās Jalin Hyatt picked up the award.
But the Biletnikoff Award went to Hyatt, who did impress with 67 catches for 1,267 yards and 15 scores. It's fair to argue he had the better statistical season, though Harrison helped lead his team to another berth in the CFP.
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back): Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
Another award for TCU.
Hodges-Tomlinson has been excellent this season, with 42 tackles (two for loss), one forced fumble, three interceptions and 11 passes defensed.
Ray Guy Award (punter of the year): Adam Korsak, Rutgers
Korsak averaged 44 yards per punt on 75 total punts this year.
Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award (outstanding kicker): Christopher Dunn, NC State
Dunn was the picture of consistency this season, finishing 24-of-25 on field goals and 30-of-30 on extra points.
Home DepotCoach of the Year: Sonny Dykes, TCU
Dykes led TCU to a 12-1 record and a berth in the College Football Playoff, though the Horned Frogs fell short in the Big 12 title game against Kansas State. No matterāit was a superb season for TCU and a justified piece of hardware for its head coach.
A lot changed during the college football championship week. Losses by TCU and USC allowed the one-loss Ohio State Buckeyes to enter the playoff picture....
Heisman Race 2022: List of Finalists for Coveted Trophy Announced
Dec 5, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 08, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
USC's Caleb Williams, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, Georgia's Stetson Bennett and TCU's Max Duggan will be heading to New York City for the 2022 Heisman Trophy ceremony after being named finalists Monday.
By this point in the season, the consensus has typically coalesced around one player as the Heisman favorite. Perhaps the voting will ultimately be pretty one-sided, but this seems to be a somewhat open race, especially after a topsy-turvy final few weeks.
Stroud's candidacy might have suffered a fatal blow with Ohio State's 45-23 loss to Michigan, a game that saw him finish 31-of-48 for 349 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
It's not often a player finishes significantly higher on the Heisman ballotāStroud was fourth in 2021āafter posting worse numbers than the year before.
In the same number of games, the Buckeyes star has 1,095 fewer passing yards (3,340), fewer touchdowns (37) and worse efficiency (66.2 percent completion rate and a 176.2 passer rating).
Williams became the front-runner with Stroud's campaign losing steam, only for USC to fall in the Pac-12 title game and miss out on a College Football Playoff berth.
The sophomore shouldn't shoulder much blame for the 47-24 defeat. He played through a hamstring injury and went 28-of-41 for 363 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, and he was a bystander as the Trojans defense allowed 533 yards to the Utah offense.
If anything, the outcome underscored Williams' value to the team and how much his performance helped compensate for a suspect defense. In 13 games, he threw for 4,075 yards, 37 touchdowns and four interceptions and ran for 372 yards and 10 scores.
Of the players still in the Heisman discussion, Bennett unquestionably had the best championship week. He threw for 274 yards and four touchdowns as Georgia dropped 50 points on LSU in the SEC title game.
It might have come far too late to change the minds of the voters, though. The Bulldogs quarterback didn't put up gaudy numbers (3,425 passing yards and 20 touchdowns) overall.
The same goes for Duggan.
The senior quarterback undoubtedly played a massive role in TCU finishing 12-1 and reaching the CFP semifinals, but it's tough to make a case for why he was the most outstanding player in FBS. Duggan posted 3,321 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and a 165.5 passer rating in the regular season.
The Heisman will be handed out Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
