CJ Stroud Strengthens Ohio State’s Position Among The All-Time Top Quarterbacks With His Outstanding Peach Bowl Performance

In contrast to two years in the past, when Fields’ excellent six-goal sport led the Buckeyes to a 49-28 win over Clemson, Stroud’s efficiency towards the Bulldogs was not sufficient to cross Ohio State over Georgia. Equal in defeatHowever Stroud’s effort deserves credit score for what it’s: a sport the place Stroud has confirmed to be an impressive quarterback and does all the pieces he can to offer the Buckeyes an opportunity to win on the sport’s greatest stage.

In opposition to top-of-the-line defenses within the nation, Stroud was each sharp as a passer and efficient as a runner. He accomplished 23 of 34 cross makes an attempt for 348 yards and 4 touchdowns. Not counting the sacks, Stroud has confirmed that he is each keen and capable of be a gun along with his ft, working the ball eight occasions for 70 yards all through the season to make the performs his crew wants.

In what was anticipated to be the final sport of his Ohio State profession earlier than getting into the NFL draft, Stroud obtained widespread reward from followers, analysts, and Buckeye teammates and coaches for a way nicely he performed.

“The best way this man competed with what he did and all that stuff that got here to him within the second half, I can not say sufficient. As Ryan Day sat subsequent to Stroud at Ohio State’s postgame press convention, I am very happy with the way in which he performed.” “I could not be extra happy with the way in which he attacked this sport, the way in which he did it. We have been kidnapping some guys there and we have been attempting to determine it out. I feel he performed considered one of his greatest performs on the most important stage.”

Projected to be the primary Ohio State quarterback to be chosen among the many high 10 picks of an NFL draft since Artwork Schlichter, Stroud confirmed why on the Peach Bowl. His first two landing passes to Marvin Harrison Jr. of the night time have been textbook examples of how dynamic Stroud could be as he makes use of his legs to purchase time behind the scrimmage line with out taking his eyes off the sector earlier than making 31- and correct area hits. 16 yard scores.

FIRST OHIO STATE SHOOTS

6-man CJ Stroud Marvin Harrison Jr. pic.twitter.com/MsWHE3DM1V

— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2023

MARVIN. HARRISON. J.R.

A dive catch to develop Buckeyes’ lead #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/8co0XnSAUw

— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2023

In two years of tackling a dominant protection, Stroud has persistently seemed one step forward of the Bulldogs, particularly on the opening of the third quarter, as he accomplished 18 of his first 22 cross makes an attempt at 292 yards. Fourth purpose of the night time towards Emeka Egbuka. Additionally glorious with further time to organize ultimately yr’s Rose Bowl, the place he set college information with 573 passing yards and 6 touchdowns, Stroud famous that his preparation over the previous 5 weeks has allowed him to excel at Atlanta.

“You appeared to know what was going to occur. If you play like that, you play without spending a dime. You are having enjoyable,” Stroud stated. “It was most likely essentially the most enjoyable sport I’ve ever performed in my life.”

Stroud wasn’t as environment friendly at passing at the back of the sport as he accomplished solely 5 of his final 12 passes for 56 yards, nevertheless it did not assist that the Buckeyes needed to play all the fourth quarter with out their greatest receiver. After Harrison was ejected with concussion. There was Cade Stover, who began arduous, and #1 Miyan Williams, working again. left the game due to injuries at that time and TreVeyon Henderson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Gee Scott Jr. Whereas he was gone, the Buckeyes needed to flip to gamers like Joe Royer and Jayden Ballard who had barely snapped all season in first-team offense.

With a depleted group of talent place gamers round him, Stroud realized he wanted to do extra on his personal to offer the Buckeyes an opportunity to win, and that is precisely what he did. In Ohio State’s final 4 dominations of the sport alone, Stroud rushed the ball for 71 yards eight occasions and drove the Buckeyes into the sector purpose zone 3 times.

Most notably, Stroud had a 27-yard deal with within the final minute of the sport that introduced the Buckeyes to the 31-yard line with 24 seconds to play, giving them an actual shot at profitable the sport after Georgia scored a kickoff. solely 54 seconds left.

CJ Stroud is a working quarterback. pic.twitter.com/uiCdDpxdzq

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 1, 2023

That run can be wasted when the Buckeyes failed to realize distance of their subsequent three video games and Noah Ruggles missed a game-winning 50-yard area purpose from the left, however Stroud managed to go away the sector figuring out he had given his all to attempt. To punch the Buckeyes’ ticket to the nationwide championship sport.

“We had a mentality that we have been going to let issues run their course. We’d exit and struggle as arduous as we may and swing as arduous as we may. I felt like we did it,” Stroud stated. “We have been very efficient within the passing sport. He began rolling a bit within the working sport, acquired a variety of optimistic runs. I felt we have been very environment friendly.

“Perhaps a few drivers I missed a studying or a guard broke down and I acquired fired, regardless of the case, perhaps that is the rationale why we misplaced. No one actually is aware of, man. We must always get within the film and see what occurs. However I am happy with my guys. I can not say an excessive amount of about how we fought. It is like We swayed time and again, we saved combating, swaying, combating.

Stroud’s teammates definitely appreciated how shut he was to main them to victory.

“If he isn’t the very best participant within the nation proper now, then I do not know who’s,” Harrison stated after the sport. “He gave his all. I’ve seen a variety of issues the place he could not run or wasn’t sturdy sufficient to run, and I feel he confirmed as we speak on the soccer area that he can do no matter he needs. And he is an incredible chief for this crew.”

“The best way this man competes with what he is achieved and all that stuff that got here to him within the second half, I can not say sufficient. I am happy with the sport he performed.”– Ryan Day at CJ Stroud

As Stroud’s Ohio State profession involves an finish, his resume is not going to embrace any wins within the CFP or aggressive sport towards Michigan. These might be elements within the dialog as Ohio State followers debate the place they stack up subsequent to the very best Buckeye quarterbacks of all time like Fields, Troy Smith, Dwayne Haskins, and JT Barrett.

Statistically, although, Stroud clearly occupies if not top-of-the-line setters in Ohio State historical past. He finishes his two-year run as quarterback with the very best setter score (182.4) in each Ohio State and Massive Ten historical past, and essentially the most passing yards per sport (324.9) in program historical past. He has the second-best profession completion share at school historical past (behind solely Haskins) and the second-highest variety of objectives at school historical past (behind solely Barrett) with an impressive 85-to-12 goal-stopping ratio. being a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist.

By proving in his seemingly closing sport as a Buckeye he may play Ohio State’s offense at an elite degree towards considered one of school soccer’s greatest defenses, Stroud left an enduring impression that gave Ohio State followers motive to understand what a proficient quarterback he was. Buckeyes for the previous two years.

And whereas he and his teammates fell in need of fulfilling his championship desires, there is no doubt that he’ll depart Columbus with a big impact on these enjoying alongside him.

“I’ll personally miss him. The entire crew will miss him. He is an incredible participant,” Harrison stated. “I used to be fortunate to have the ability to play with him all yr. I had the prospect to start out with him this yr and see him on the Rose Bowl final yr. I am undoubtedly fortunate to play with a quarterback like him and have a good friend on the finish of the day, each on and off the courtroom.”