Once in a while, the chaos of college football takes a break and offers a chance for a much-needed breath. As that happened last weekend, the Heisman Trophy...
C.J. Stroud remains the Heisman Trophy favorite, but Ohio State's star quarterback officially has company. Not only did Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker...
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The 2022 college football season is roughly two weeks away from its midway point and there’s been plenty of shakeup in team standing and position rankings...
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Conference play is set to begin around much of college football, and those results will lead to more regular changes in and build excitement for the 2022...
Ohio State's C.J. Stroud Hyped by CFB Twitter After 'Creating a Gap' in Heisman Race
Sep 18, 2022
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud drops back to pass against Toledo during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Toledo Rockets 77-21 in a blowout on Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, to move to 3-0 on the season.
It was a particularly impressive showing from quarterback C.J. Stroud, who completed 22 of 27 passes for 367 yards and five touchdowns. He also had two carries for nine yards before being replaced by Kyle McCord with the Buckeyes holding a significant lead in the fourth quarter.
Stroud has been considered a Heisman Trophy favorite since the 2022 season began, but fans believe he put some distance between him and his competition in the race for the award with his performance against the Rockets.
Stroud wins heisman and the nati. I will not accept anything less. This team has all the talent it needs and then some. They can take on bama and georgia.
Stroud entered Saturday's game having completed 69 percent of his passes for 574 yards and six touchdowns in wins over Notre Dame and Arkansas State.
While Stroud currently looks like the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, the 2022 campaign has only just begun. He's sure to have some stiff competition for the award, especially from the likes of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, USC quarterback Caleb Williams and Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett.
The Buckeyes will face the Wisconsin Badgers next weekend looking to extend their record to 4-0.
NFC GM: 2023 NFL QB Class Featuring Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud Best Group 'Maybe Ever'
Sep 14, 2022
AUSTIN, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 10: Bryce Young #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass in the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
While the 2022 NFL draft saw only one quarterback taken in the first round, next year is shaping up to be a bonanza.
Matt Miller of ESPN reported there are as many as five quarterbacks receiving first-round attention, and the league is buzzing about the deep crop of signal-callers.
"This might be the deepest QB class in a long, long time. Maybe ever," one general manager said. "Especially in terms of volume. We're evaluating so many guys. It's a great year to need a quarterback."
Alabama's Bryce Young, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, Kentucky's Will Levis, Florida's Anthony Richardson and Miami's Tyler Van Dyke are among the names drawing serious first-round consideration.
Young and Stroud are virtual locks to be top-10 picks and could be the first two players off the board next April. While neither has been as sensational early in 2022 as they were a year ago, both possess near-ideal modern skill sets at the quarterback position.
Levis, Richardson and Van Dyke are more high-variance prospects, with their potential draft position being highly dependent on their performance this season. Levis is a big, athletic quarterback with a rocket arm, but he's turnover prone and couldn't beat out Sean Clifford at Penn State.
Richardson has superstar potential with every physical trait you'd want in a quarterback; he's just nowhere close to tapping his skills. He looked overwhelmed in last week's 26-16 loss to Kentucky and hasn't thrown a touchdown in 59 pass attempts this season.
Van Dyke is more of an old-school pocket passer, but he's light years ahead of Levis and Richardson with his poise in the pocket. The Miami product drew comparisons to Kirk Cousins coming out of high school, and it's not hard to envision him having a similar career.
Miller's report indicated there are more than 20 quarterbacks scouts see as having NFL potential this year, and it's likely we'll see at least one or two make a name for themselves with their play this season.
At this time a year ago, no one would have predicted Kenny Pickett as the top quarterback in the 2022 class. While it's unlikely anyone will knock Young and Stroud off their perch as the top prospects, don't be surprised if another name sneaks into the first-round conversation once conference play gets underway.
C.J. Stroud, Marvin Harrison Jr. Wow Twitter as Ohio State Routs Arkansas State
Sep 10, 2022
Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. runs past Utah cornerback Kenzel Lawler (2) during the second half in the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Quarterback C.J. Stroud and wide
receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. continued to build an impressive rapport as they helped lead No. 3 Ohio State to a
convincing 45-12 win over Arkansas State on Saturday at Ohio
Stadium in Columbus.
Stroud, one of the early leaders in
this season's Heisman Trophy race, completed 16 of his 24 passes for
351 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for the Buckeyes.
Harrison tallied seven catches for 184 yards and three scores. He nearly had another TD late in the first
quarter, but it was ruled an incomplete pass on a close call at the
goal line.
I can’t believe what I just witnessed. The magic of CJ Stroud’s perfection in that pass and the brilliance of Marvin Harrison’s catch is other worldly! 😍😍
Other standouts for Ohio State included
running back TreVeyon Henderson (87 rushing yards and two TDs) and
Emeka Egbuka (118 receiving yards and one TD).
It took awhile for OSU to find its top
gear against the Red Wolves, as the massive underdogs kept the contest
within one score until deep in the second quarter, but a
touchdown connection between Stroud and Harrison shortly before halftime opened the
floodgates.
That score sparked a 21-0 run for Ohio State, which cruised to the finish line.
The Buckeyes improved to 2-0 with
Saturday's victory after they scored a hard-fought 21-10 triumph over
No. 5 Notre Dame in Week 1.
Next up on the schedule for Ohio State
is a meeting with Toledo out of the MAC next Saturday at The
Horseshoe. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Fox.
Why C.J. Stroud Is 2023 NFL Draft's Top QB Prospect Entering College Season
Sep 3, 2022
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws a pass during the Rose Bowl game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Utah Utes on January 1, 2022 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Alabama's Bryce Young may be the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, but Ohio State's C.J. Stroud is clearly college football's best quarterback prospect for the 2023 NFL draft.
History has showed that collegiate hardware doesn't automatically equate to future success. It's happened more often than not as of late, but the likes of Robert Griffin III, Johnny Manziel, Marcus Mariota and Baker Mayfield (so far) didn't translate to the professional game and serve as warnings.
This isn't to say that Young isn't a quality prospect. But he can't automatically be pushed above every other quarterback on draft boards based on what he's done as part of the nation's most successful football program.
Just the fact that Stroud and Young are even in the early conversation as top draft selections is a wonderful change of pace after this year's group of signal-callers can be kindly described as the worst of this century.
"It was a really, really weak class," an AFC personnel executive told Heavy's Matt Lombardo. "Everyone knew it all along, but everyone tried to sell those guys to each other."
As a result, some franchises in desperate need of an infusion of talent under center punted on the position with an eye toward next April. This could benefit the entire class. Kentucky's Will Levis, Miami's Tyler Van Dyke, Florida's Anthony Richardson and Stanford's Tanner McKee should all be in the first-round mix as well.
But Stroud should lead the way as the true premium talent with No. 1 overall potential.
Ultimately, the conversation will hinge on Young vs. Stroud because they're the two most high-profile prospects playing for illustrious pipeline programs. They finished first and fourth, respectively, in Heisman voting last year. Their situations are now flipped slightly, with Stroud entering this season as the betting favorite for the award.
Stroud's physical tools, skill set, production and growth potential place him atop this year's crop.
Stroud's and Young's physical statures are night and day and will likely prove to be the biggest difference in their evaluations. The former is 6'3" and 218 pounds, while the latter is 6'0" and 194 pounds.
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 11: The Heisman Trophy finalists defensive end Aidan Hutchinson from Michigan, quarterback Kenny Pickett from Pittsburgh, quarterback C.J. Stroud from Ohio State and quarterback Bryce Young from Alabama look serious as they pose with the Heisman Trophy at the Marriott Marquis in New York on December 11, 2021 in New York City, NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Young's height is less of an issue that it once was. After all, offenses operate out of the shotgun on a regular basis, and shorter options have succeeded in the league as of late.
However, Young's slight frame will be a major concern when it comes to taking an NFL pounding. Jim McMahon (6'1", 195 lbs) in 1982 is the last first-round quarterback over the last 40 years to weigh fewer than 200 pounds. Guys like Mayfield (6'1", 215 lbs), Kyler Murray (5'10", 207 lbs) and Russell Wilson (5'11", 215 lbs) are shorter quarterbacks, but they're thickly built. They can create significant torque in their lower bodies and hips because of their squatty frames.
Prototypical NFL size standards aside, Stroud layers throws to all three levels. The 20-year-old passer is particularly adept when he drives the ball down the field. His pure arm strength may not reach Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes levels, but he should be considered among the next tier.
Deep passing is also a byproduct of timing and touch. According to Pro Football Focus, Stroud was college football's most accurate deep passer going into bowl season. The reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year then dumped 573 yards and six touchdowns in a victory over the Utah Utes in the Rose Bowl.
It's important to make the distinction between those two points to ensure the number wasn't skewed because of that historic performance.
"I say with C.J., he really drops the ball in there. The best way to put it is like Russell Wilson," former teammate and first-round wide receiver Garrett Wilson told the Big Ten Network last year (h/t The Lantern's Jacob Benge).
PFF also graded Stroud as the best Big Ten quarterback last season with a 67.6 percent accurate pass rate.
NFL evaluators will start to salivate over a quarterback who navigates the pocket, keeps his eyes downfield and consistently delivers the football with a smooth, compact delivery.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 10: Alabama Crimson Tide QB Bryce Young (9) throws downfield during the Alabama Crimson Tide versus the Georgia Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff National Championship, on January 10, 2022, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Young isn't a slouch either. He has a great feel for the game with excellent touch within the scheme and creativity outside of structure. But his stature will remain a sticking point.
Levis, meanwhile, brings the best combination of size (6'3", 232 lbs) and raw arm talent, as well as two years of learning under current or former NFL offensive coordinators at Kentucky in Liam Coen and Rich Scangarello. Van Dyke lit up the second half of last season. He must repeat that performance over a full campaign. Richardson is a raw mound of elite athletic traits. Finally, McKee is a 6'6" pro-style quarterback coming out of Stanford, and he must help the program rise from the malaise of the last three seasons.
To take the next step, Stroud simply needs to build on what he's already done. Last season, the Ohio State starter became the only quarterback at the FBS level to finish top-five in completion percentage (71.9), passing yardage (4,435), passing touchdowns (44), yards per attempt (10.1) and quarterback rating (186.6).
Anything close to or exceeding those numbers will cement Stroud's status as not only the top quarterback prospect but also the leading candidate for the first overall pick (yes, even over Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. because of positional value).
The third-year signal-caller knows he must improve in certain areas, particularly in leading the offense and becoming a louder voice in the locker room.
"He's speaking up. He's more mature. He wants to win," wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba told reporters. "You know, we're all fired up. He's a competitor, and no one wants to win more than him, and he wants to bring that to the whole team and spread it out."
Head coach Ryan Day added: "I think that C.J. has really grown in terms of his leadership this year, and just has a much more, you know, wide perspective on everything that’s going on, not just his job. He sees it almost as a coach right now. I know his No. 1 thing is he wants to win, and everything else is secondary. And he’s practiced that way."
A better understanding of and an increased comfortability within the offense should speed up Stroud's process. Like most young quarterbacks, the one-year starter could be quicker to get off his first read and work his way through his progression to the point where it becomes far more natural in how he sees the field.
The Buckeyes' current setup provides a significant task, with Stroud needing to grow mentally within the scheme while taking on more responsibility with a reworked supporting cast. He is now the focal point of the offense. Everything flows through him and how he distributes the ball.
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 01: Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a touchdown pass as Malone Mataele #15 of the Utah Utes defends during the fourth quarter in the Rose Bowl Game at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Ohio State remains extremely talented at receiver with Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., Julian Fleming and Emeka Egbuka. But the group isn't nearly as experienced as the one from last year, when two first rounders—Wilson and Chris Olave—flanked the formation. Essentially, the roles reversed, with Stroud set to make his targets into top-end prospects.
Stroud fits the prototype of a professional quarterback. His traits as a passer are evident. He's playing at the highest level possible and producing against top competition. He has ample opportunity to build an already impressive resume. Maybe Stroud will even capture his own Heisman Trophy.
Either way, this season should serve as the coronation of Stroud as the nation's best quarterback and top option in 2023 even if he doesn't walk away with 45 pounds of Ed Smith-shaped cast bronze.
Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.
