You can feel it in his heart how much the two Michigan losses pain former Ohio State star quarterback C.J. Stroud.
NFL teams will love how candid C.J. Stroud was at the podium discussing the Michigan losses.
No doubt about it, the former Ohio State star quarterback made the right decision to turn pro after his junior year, but you can feel how much the Buckeyes’ losses to the Wolverines do pain him. He said at the NFL combine that had Ohio State won either of those two games, he would be a Heisman Trophy winner, and probably in a better position to have won a national championship.
A potential redemption story brewing in the Big Ten East nearly had Stroud returning to school.
Stroud projects at a top-10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, probably as the second quarterback taken.
C.J. Stroud nearly returned to Ohio State, just so he could beat Michigan for once
I think Stroud speaking this candidly about his failures vs. Michigan are a huge positive for him throughout the draft process. Sometimes your rival team has your school’s number, and there is not much you can do about it. So many great college players went on to have stellar pro careers, despite having a few too many blemishes vs. a collegiate rival team. Stroud is not unique in this.
The reason why this is a big deal is it showcases his competitive fire, his honesty and will to win. Even after having not beaten Michigan a single time, Stroud played well enough in the Peach Bowl to beat Georgia. If you have any doubts about what Stroud can be at the next level, watch that game and remind yourself of what he can do. This is why Stroud is probably is going top-7 or so.
Stroud may not be the first quarterback off the board, but you better believe teams like the Indianapolis Colts picking at No. 4, the Las Vegas Raiders picking at No. 7 and the Carolina Panthers picking at No. 9 could have so much interest in him. Other teams could be in the market to trade up for him. Along with Alabama’s Bryce Young, he is worthy of moving up for this spring.
No matter what happens in his pro career, not even one time will Stroud have beaten Michigan.
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