With just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of the College Football Playoff Semifinals, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud steps up to the line of scrimmage for a critical third down and long.
The Buckeyes know what they need: a field goal gives them a six-point lead, while a touchdown puts them up two scores. The problem is that the ball sits at the 32 yard-line, likely outside of kicker Noah Ruggles’ range.
As was the case all season, Stroud has a solution. Despite not having his two best wide receivers — likely first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison, Jr. — Stroud delivers a strike to Emeka Egbuka for a first down.
Ohio State lost the game, but it was hardly Stroud’s fault. Stroud finished the game with 348 passing yards and four touchdowns against one of the best defenses the sport has seen, cementing his place as one of the 2023 NFL Draft’s best quarterbacks.
Fast forward four months and the narrative has changed on Stroud. One month ago, Stroud was expected to be the top draft pick in next week’s draft; now, his stock is a question mark.
The reason for Stroud’s fall is hard to pinpoint, but it’s safe to say it has to do with his film. Stroud was one of college football’s best quarterbacks for two seasons, and he’s a modern-day problem solver. In a sport that’s one big math problem, he’s the best mathematician in the class.
Stroud doesn’t have the best arm in this class; he also isn’t the fastest, but none of that should matter. Playing quarterback is about more than being a physical freak of nature and throwing “ham cannons” around the field. The best quarterbacks can elevate their teammates and run an offense.
Don’t believe that? Ask the late Mike Leach, who knows something about developing quarterbacks.
“If he isn’t accurate and doesn’t make good decisions,” Leach wrote in his book Swing Your Sword. “Then he isn’t going to be very good at bringing out the best in your other players.
If Stroud falls down the board, which is a possibility, then the Minnesota Vikings should be licking their chops as they call every team inside the top 10 to trade up. Stroud isn’t a perfect prospect, but he also doesn’t need to be because his floor and problem-solving abilities will carry over.