Buckeyes give quarterback C.J. Stroud light, load-management practice
COLUMBUS — C.J. Stroud is the clear-cut pick to be the starting quarterback at Ohio State.
That doesn’t mean he always needs the first-reps during the grind of training camp.
The Buckeyes largely gave Stroud a break just a couple days after a key scrimmage helped him separate in the three-man battle to take over the most important position on the roster, essentially taking the football out of his hands whenever a pass was required as part of a designed effort to keep his arm fresh.
“It’s something we typically do during camp is just shut them down at times with their arm, so that’s all that was,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said after practice on Wednesday. “It just depends on how much they’ve been throwing, how much we’ve been throwing and how tired they get.
“We just kind of rely on them. That’s just how it goes.”
The Buckeyes still had Stroud at the front of the line for drills during the open practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, and he remained behind center for team-period action when run plays were called. But other than a couple early deep shots, Stroud almost exclusively watched the rest of the passers when Ohio State had the football in the air — which could wind up being significant in a heated backup race between Kyle McCord and Jack Miller.
The reps continued to be rotated between those two guys, though it certainly appears that McCord has edged ahead in that secondary competition thanks to a strong, accurate arm, confident decision-making and his quick transition into the system as a true freshman.
Ohio State hasn’t made anything official with the depth chart, including with Stroud. But the indications that a pecking order has been established are only getting stronger.
“What a great opportunity for them to really step up and take reps with the ones,” Day said. “Big evaluation this week for those guys as well now that we’ve got a few reps this week with the ones. By Friday, I think we need to find out who is game ready.
“I think this is a big week for all of them.”
The importance of every practice is seemingly magnified at quarterback during training camp. But not every day for the starter has to be a full-go workout ahead of the Ohio State opener.
