C.J. Stroud

NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah wrote Tuesday in a scouting report of Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud that he sees "a lot of similarities" between the 2021 Heisman Trophy finalist and New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones.

He continued:

"Both guys see the field well, make good decisions and take what the defense gives them. They protect the football and understand how to manage the game. Neither player has outstanding arm strength or athleticism but both have excellent touch on the deep ball. Jones surprised a lot of evaluators with his success as a rookie and I could see a similar outcome in Stroud's future."

Stroud, 20, was superb in the 2021 season, throwing for 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns and six interceptions while leading the Buckeyes to an 11-2 record, though they did fail to win the Big Ten or reach the College Football Playoff.

Nonetheless, it was a successful first season for the then-redshirt freshman and made him one of the top overall prospects to watch in the 2023 NFL draft.

Likewise, Jones had a successful rookie season with the Patriots, throwing for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 17 games while completing 67.6 percent of his passes and leading the Pats to a 10-7 record and a playoff berth. He was named a Pro Bowler for his efforts.

One of the knocks against Jones is that his upside is that of a game manager, and that ramped up after a 14-10 win over the Buffalo Bills in December when he attempted just three passes in snowy conditions.

The Patriots lost four of their next five games after that, including a 47-17 trouncing by the Bills in the AFC Wild Card Round. But for a rookie playing in the shadow of former New England legend Tom Brady, it was an incredibly successful first season.

As for Stroud, Jeremiah noted in his scouting report that the Ohio State quarterback has "a nice blend of size, production and poise" and "deft feel on fades and over-the-top throws."

He added that the 6'3", 215-pound Stroud "never seemed rattled, which is impressive for a first-year starter at the position."

Stroud will have a big season ahead of him as he looks to prove he's a top-10 talent for NFL teams looking to upgrade at quarterback. If his current comp is Jones, he's already on the right path.

Four star players from the Ohio State football team have reached agreements on a joint six-figure name, image and likeness deal.

Per Joey Kaufman of the Columbus Dispatch, a third-party collective called The Foundation has raised a total of $550,000 for quarterback C.J. Stroud, running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and cornerback Denzel Burke.

The deals include product endorsements for each player.

"As part of the terms, Burke and Henderson will promote American Eagle Outfitters, and Smith-Njigba and Stroud will plug Designer Shoe Warehouse. Stroud is pushing Value City Furniture, as well," Kaufman wrote.

The Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was founded by Columbus native Brian Schottenstein. Former Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones is also a member of the collective.

Schottenstein stated that the players will also work with The Foundation's partner charities, starting with a fundraising event they all will attend on Aug. 22.

"I think there is a lot of pride, but I'm really passionate about Ohio State's athletics, particularly the football and basketball programs, and I love the three charities that we are involved with," Schottenstein said. "So I put all my passions into one nonprofit. I really enjoy giving back to those areas. That part has been really nice. And it's nice to see the results paying off."

Schottenstein added that he believes this is the largest joint NIL deal for Ohio State athletes since players have been allowed to be compensated for their celebrity.

Last month, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day estimated that the program would need $13 million annually in NIL money to maintain its talented roster. With a collective like The Foundation backing future deals, it appears that number is not out of the question. Schottenstein said he hopes to help the Buckeyes achieve the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation.

"I think recruits knowing that we have this in place, and we have a lot of businesses that are supporting our collective, our foundation, it's definitely helping them make a decision to come to Ohio State versus other schools," Schottenstein said.

The 2022 NBA draft opens for business Thursday evening at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Wait, you thought this article was about future NFL talent? It is. But a significant differentiation exists between the two sports in regards to eligibility standards.

The NFL currently requires a prospect be three years removed from high school before he's deemed eligible to play. Whereas, the NBA demands a one-year requirement before entering the draft.

The general argument in favor of the extended waiting period centered on the vast majority not being physically or mentally prepared to endure the rigors of professional football. This isn't the case with everyone, though.

The likes of Adrian Peterson, Trevor Lawrence and even Derek Stingley Jr., who became this year's third overall pick, showed how silly the NFL's standing can be when it comes to truly elite talent. But 14 years have passed since Maurice Clarett challenged the standard only to have the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit rule against his case.

Even so, the possibility of a young superstar rising through the ranks and challenging the league again isn't out of the question. Had the rules changed prior to the 2022 draft, multiple previously ineligible prospects would have heard their names called very early in the process.

Five in particular stand out as top talents who wouldn't have waited long to hear their names called.

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QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

Ohio State's C.J. Stroud is DraftKings' current favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. Had he been eligible, the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year would have almost certainly been the top quarterback selected in the 2022 draft.

This incoming crop of quarterbacks turned into one of the weakest groups in recent memory. The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall pick—which made him the lowest-drafted QB1 this century. No other signal-caller heard his name called until the third round.

Stroud, meanwhile, produced a fantastic campaign during his first season as the Buckeyes starter.

The 20-year-old became the only FBS quarterback to finish top four last season in completion percentage (71.9), average yards per attempt (10.1), touchdown passes (44) and quarterback rating (186.6). To expand on his productivity, Stroud was the nation's most accurate deep passer during the 2021 regular season and posted the highest rate of accurate passes over his last nine starts (including postseason), according to Pro Football Focus.

Some may argue in favor of Alabama's Bryce Young as the top quarterback prospect for next year's class. After all, he is the current Heisman Trophy winner. The difference lies in physical attributes. The 6'3", 218-pound Stroud has a much sturdier frame than the 6'0", 194-pound Young. The old prerequisites for playing the position have changed over time, but teams still prefer to have the bigger, strong option behind center if the talents are comparable.

In this case, the redshirt sophomore has an opportunity to put together a pair of outstanding seasons, win more accolades and claim the top spot among a much deeper quarterback class.

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RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin

Wisconsin's Braelon Allen is the closest person to replicate what Adrian Peterson did as a freshman at Oklahoma. In some ways, the current collegian is even more impressive.

The second-team All-Big Ten performer took the Big Ten Conference by storm before he even turned 18 years old. He ran for 1,268 yards, and his average of 6.8 yards per carry tied with fellow freshman TreVeyon Henderson for the nation's best among backs with 150 or more carries. For comparison, Peterson ran for 1,925 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per tote as a freshaman, though he carried the ball 153 more times. On the other side of the spectrum, freshman Derrick Henry managed 35 carries for 382 yards in a loaded Alabama backfield.

These two comparisons are important because of their physical stature. Both Peterson and Henry always looked larger than life, capable of running through and past defenders. Allen, too, is a sculpted 6'2", 238-pounder.

Now eligible to vote, Allen is physically different than anyone else at the position and maybe in all of college football. The running back cleaned 405 pounds when he was just 16 years old, and he's bigger, thicker and stronger after being in the Badgers' weight program for a full year.

"A lot of the stuff he does is freakish, whether it be in the weight room or out here," tight end Jake Ferguson, whom the Dallas Cowboys drafted in this year's fourth round, told reporters. "Just being able to block for him, it’s awesome. Him just running through people’s faces is pretty cool to watch. … He's running hard. I keep telling him, ‘Just run through somebody’s face.'"

Physically, Allen could be one of the NFL's top backs right now.

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TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

Not a single tight end heard his name called in this year's first round. Brock Bowers will be a first-round pick as soon as he becomes available.

As a true freshman, Bowers led the national champion Georgia Bulldogs with 56 receptions, 882 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. He ranked third among all tight ends in receiving yards, first among those with 50 or more receptions at 15.8 yards per catch and first in touchdown receptions.

The 6'4", 230-pound target is already an instant mismatch in the passing game, which is where today's tight ends hold the highest value. His ability to adjust to the ball and highpoint passes with strong hands and fantastic body control makes him difficult to cover, even when a defender is in position.

"Once he got into contact, he’s got really good toughness," Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart told reporters in December. "He’s got great lower body strength. He’s got great pass-catching radius and good speed. These things combine to make for a good tight end.

"The fact that he’s been so composed has surprised me the most. There's not been a moment too big for him. It doesn't matter to him whether he's playing in the backyard or playing our defense against the scout team or he's playing Clemson in the opening game, for him he wants to do it the right way. It’s important to him to do it the right way."

Typically, tight ends must be considered special to earn their way into first-round consideration. Bowers might already be a top-10 talent.

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Edge Will Anderson Jr., Alabama

Travon Walker wouldn't have been the No. 1 overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars this year had Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. been available.

Sure, Walker has unreal physical traits that made him worthy of the status, but he's far from a polished prospect and nowhere near the disruptive force the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year is.

Clearly, those within college football saw Anderson as the far superior player considering the hardware he won. Granted, a player can't bring collegiate accolades with him to the professional game. But Anderson earned the recognition because he's a complete game-wrecker.

Last season, the 20-year-old led the FBS with 17.5 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss. He had 12.5 more tackles for loss than any other player at that level. His 81 quarterback pressures led everyone as well, according to PFF. Oh, he led the nation with 60 pressures during his true freshman campaign, too.

The 6'4", 243-pound Anderson isn't built like other edge defenders considered worthy of the No. 1 overall pick. Courtney Brown, Jadeveon Clowney, Myles Garrett and even Walker were all around 6'5" and 265-plus pounds with long levers and outstanding physiques. Still, Anderson is an explosive athlete capable of blowing by blockers. At the same time, he doesn't quite fit the typical standards for being an elite talent at the position.

His constant disruption, ability to bend and closing burst on the quarterback may be a little more reminiscent of another Alabama great, Derrick Thomas. To be sure, it's a lofty comparison. But Anderson is college football's most dominant edge-rusher over the last two decades.

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DL Jalen Carter, Georgia

Aaron Donald made everyone look at the defensive tackle position differently. He showed a premium pass-rusher doesn't need to work off the edge full-time.

Generally, an edge-rusher is counted among the premium positions. But a defensive tackle can be just as valuable, if not more so, based on his ability to create pressure.

Among an absolutely loaded Georgia defense—which featured this year's No. 1 overall pick, as well as the reigning Butkus and Outland Trophy winners—Carter often looked like the best player on the field.

As a true sophomore, the 6'3", 310-pounder led all Power Five interior defenders in pass-rush win rate, per PFF. He also led all returning SEC defensive tackles in overall grade.

Carter is a tenacious and competitive defender, and the Bulldogs coaching staff expects to get even more out of him this fall.

"I took him off kickoff returns, I wanted [him to be fresh to rush the passer] and he was pissed at me," Smart told reporters in January. "I thought he was going to beat me up over there when I told him he couldn’t go on kickoff return, because he wanted to go on kickoff return. He had been playing defensive line, he had blocked the field goal, played on offense, and played fullback.

"So he’s a talented player, and the sky’s the limit for him."

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Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.

C.J. Stroud will be arriving to Ohio State football practices in style.

According to Joey Kaufman of the Columbus Dispatch, the star quarterback received a pre-owned Bentley Bentayga, valued at $150,000, as part of an NIL deal with Sarchione Auto Gallery, a car dealership in Canton, Ohio.

"When you talk to people, whether it’s in the community or at the game, our brand awareness is what we're building, so when you have the best-of-the-best promoting your brand, it only does good things," Sarchione Auto Gallery general manager Ryan Burton told Kaufman.

As a part of the agreement, Stroud will make public appearances at the dealership and promote the business on social media platforms. He also will be able to lease a different vehicle after 45 days.

Stroud is the first college athlete to partner with the dealership.

Per Kaufman, Stroud became interested in the partnership after seeing his former teammate, New Orleans Saints rookie wideout Chris Olave, driving a BMW X7 before this year's NFL draft as a part of his own deal.

"If somebody is that adamant about it, and they’re going to be a Heisman front-runner, top-10 pick in the draft, we're interested," Burton said. "That's how it all came together."

Stroud, 20, was a Heisman Trophy finalist last season after throwing for 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 71.9 percent of his passes. Alabama's Bryce Young beat him out for the award and already has his own collection of NIL deals, including one with BMW of Tuscaloosa.

Young's portfolio also includes Cash App, Subway and Logan’s Roadhouse, while Stroud has deals with Express and Athletic Brewing.

To little surprise, arguably the top two players in the 2023 draft class play at Alabama.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. released his first big board Tuesday, featuring pass-rusher Will Anderson Jr. as the top overall player ahead of reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young.

Ohio State star C.J. Stroud currently sits at No. 3. Here is an early look at how Kiper sees the upcoming class:

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Kiper's 2023 Big Board

1. Will Anderson Jr., DE, Alabama

2. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

3. C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

4. Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

5. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

6. Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

7. Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

8. Eli Ricks, CB, Alabama

9. Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU

10. Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

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The 2022 draft was light on household names, with eventual No. 1 pick Travon Walker only one of many elite players on the Georgia defense. Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett was the only quarterback taken in Round 1, and he had a low profile heading into last season.

That shouldn't be the case this year with several big-name stars returning to college.

Young won the Heisman as a sophomore, totaling 4,872 passing yards and 47 touchdowns while leading the Crimson Tide to the title game. Stroud was nearly as good in 2021, finishing with 4,435 passing yards and 44 touchdowns.

The two top quarterbacks will likely spend next season battling for the Heisman as well as the right to be taken No. 1 overall in the 2023 draft.

Miami's Tyler Van Dyke, Florida's Anthony Richardson and Kentucky's Will Levis were also listed among Kiper's top 25 players in the class.

The nation's best player might come on the defensive side of the ball, however. Anderson finished fifth in Heisman voting last year after totaling 17.5 sacks and 101 tackles, winning the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award in the process.

The Alabama edge-rusher might not be the No. 1 pick based on need, but he won't wait long to hear his name called.

Another interesting addition to the top 10 is Texas running back Bijan Robinson, who had 1,422 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns in 10 games before an elbow injury. The last running back drafted inside the top 20 was Saquon Barkley in 2018 (No. 2), and Robinson will try to change the trend with a big year.