C.J. Stroud taking leadership to next level in Year Two as Buckeyes starter
INDIANAPOLIS — C.J. Stroud is the returning starting quarterback for Ohio State, he was a Heisman finalist in 2021, he had a Rose Bowl passing performance greater than any who had come before him.
So of course the third-year collegian, just by osmosis, would be considered one of the leaders of the 2022 Buckeyes.
But in the case of Stroud, there’s more to it than that at Ohio State. As he and his team prepare to plunge into preseason camp next week headed toward the much-anticipated opener with Notre Dame, he’d have to be considered The leader of the team.
“This offseason he has really had an edge to him,” coach Ryan Day said here Wednesday during the Big Ten media days at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Stroud isn’t simply immersing himself with the offense which, based on his passing prowess and play of three of the elite wide receivers in the nation last year, led the country in total offense. He has stepped up his camaraderie with the whole team.
“He’s taken guys from the defense over to his place for dinner” for example, Day said. “He has really approached it like a coach. … For a third-year player to take that kind of approach, it’s great to see.”
As far as Stroud is concerned, though, he’s just doing the starting quarterback thing. He was working on that aspect even before Day named him the starter in preseason camp last August, and the team leadership stuff mushroomed from there.
“You just see it with his confidence, people are going to listen to him,” his Ohio State partner in Rose Bowl record breaking Jaxon Smith-Njigba said. “He’s speaking up. He’s more mature. He wants to win.
“We’re all fired up, and he’s a competitor. No one wants to win more than him. He wants to bring that to the whole team and spread it out. He’s done a good job. I’m on board. A lot of people are on board. … We’re pulling other people along.
“He’s done what he has to do as a quarterback.”
Like invite even defensive players to his home for sometimes home-cooked meals, sometimes carryout, whatever it takes. After all, the Ohio State quarterback does that substantial NIL-deals money he can use to feed and entertain at his whim. The idea is to build the fellowship that only tight teams truly enjoy.
“I like to have dudes over just to build trust,” Stroud said. “Myself being a leader, not just leading by example but off the field as well, showing them kind of my lifestyle, how I live.
“I try to show the younger dudes there’s other way than just balling on the field. You can be a successful businessman, too. I show them some things I do in the NIL space, and just cook for them, have a brotherhood.”
Outspoken is one way of describing him, and he doesn’t shy away from that.
“I’m very vocal. Sometimes I think I’m too vocal,” Stroud said. “I try to keep it real because I feel like those who keep it real with you in your life do care. So I try to call my guys out, but I often tell them to call me out when I’m doing something wrong.
“I like constructive criticism … and lead by example as well. I’m first one in, last one out. I watch a lot of film.”
Again, though, there are other parts of his leadership ability besides the football aspect for Ohio State.
“Probably the most important one is I can relate to everybody on the team,” Stroud said. “From the different cultures to, you name it, I can relate to them in some type of way, or I can understand where they come from and put myself in their shoes.”
