Scarlet Sunrise: C.J. Stroud goes fifth overall in latest ESPN Mock Draft

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C.J. Stroud goes fifth overall in latest ESPN Mock Draft

The bowl season is over, and all that is left to be played is the National Championship. That means that we’re officially in mock NFL Draft season.

There are more mock drafts than players drafted every year. That said, ESPN’s are often turned to, whether it be Mel Kiper Jr.’s, Todd McShay’s or, more recently, Jordan Reid’s.

Reid put one out Wednesday, projecting the first 31 picks in this year’s draft — remember, there are only 31 first-round selections this year because of the Miami Dolphins’ tampering violation.

In Reid’s Day One mock, he has Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud going fifth overall to the Indianapolis Colts.

Reid wrote: “The Colts have played musical chairs at quarterback since the abrupt retirement of Andrew Luck in 2019, which means they could be aggressive in this draft to trade up for the guy they want. In this scenario, the music officially stops, and the team secures its QB of the future in Stroud, a traditional pocket passer who has clean footwork and solid body mechanics. In an offense that already has building-block players like Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr. and Quenton Nelson, Stroud would have early help as Indianapolis builds around his skill set.”

If Stroud does indeed end up getting plucked by the Colts at No. 5 overall, he’d be the highest-drafted Ohio State quarterback since Art Schlichter in 1982. Interestingly enough, Schlichter went fourth overall that year to who else but the Baltimore Colts.

Buckeyes busy offseason already underway as transfer portal heats up

We’re only one week into the offseason, and there has already been a whole lot of activity for Ohio State, which saw three players hit the portal and another commit from the portal.

The recent departures consist of long snapper Mason Arnold, defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste and cornerback JK Johnson. And the week’s newcomer is former Syracuse safety Ja’Had Carter.

Lettermen Row‘s first video of the offseason starts there, as the crew of Spencer Holbrook, Tim May and Andy Backstrom discusses the Buckeyes’ latest happenings in the transfer portal.

Buckeyes lose Zed Key, double-digit lead against No. 1 Purdue

Ohio State led by as many as 12 points in the first half of Thursday night’s game against top-ranked Purdue. And that was without center Zed Key, who suffered a left shoulder sprain less than four minutes into the matchup. Key was jostling for a rebound with Boilermakers 7-foot-4 big man Zach Edey when he sustained the injury. Key left for the locker room and didn’t return to action.

Purdue, which finished the night with a season-high 13 makes from 3-point range, caught fire from deep toward the end of the first half and went into intermission only down three points. The second period was mostly back and forth, although Ohio State appeared to be on the brink of victory when Sean McNeil drilled a 3-pointer to put the Buckeyes ahead, 69-66, with 40 seconds remaining.

But an Edey basket, a Justice Sueing turnover after he received the subsequent inbound pass and a Fletcher Loyer game-winning triple spelled doom for Ohio State in what turned out to be a 71-69 loss for the Buckeyes.

READ: Ohio State loses Zed Key, double-digit lead against top-ranked Purdue

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 239 days

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 323 days

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