A quarterback must form strong bonds with his receivers if he plans to have everyone on the same page.
Some relationships are formed during the early days of training camp.
Others are created back in college and only grow once at the professional level.
For Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and rookie tight end Cade Stover, it’s more so the latter. While no longer in Columbus, the duo plans to make a similar impact as the one left at Ohio State.
“Me and Cade are brothers,” Stroud said of Houston’s fourth-round pick earlier this week. “Somebody who I had the chance to play with in college, but spend a lot of time with him off the field in college, barbecuing, just chilling, playing the game, all type of stuff. That’s somebody I consider my brother.”
A two-time Heisman finalist, Stroud showed off his first-round talent during his final season with the Buckeyes. Completing 66.3 percent of his passes, Stroud threw 41 touchdown passes against six interceptions to help Ohio State clinch a berth in the College Football Playoff.
The draft discussion around Cade Stover is probably significantly different if he has a second season with C.J. Stroud instead of working with Kyle McCord in 2023.
Not sure he would have been a Day 3 prospect if his quarterback could find him #HTownMade pic.twitter.com/12utHkT4q3
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) June 25, 2024
Stover, a 2023 finalist for the John Mackey Award, was a go-to target for the former No. 2 overall pick inside the red zone. During the 2022 season, Stroud found Stover 36 times for 406 yards and five touchdowns.
Drafted No. 123 overall, Stover must earn reps in practice to reunite with Stroud on Sundays. Dalton Schultz, who served as Stroud’s security blanket last season while helping him win Offensive Rookie of the Year, isn’t in jeopardy of losing starting reps after signing a three-year contract to return this offseason.
Brevin Jordan served as Houston’s No. 2 tight end and offers position flexibility, lining up in multiple spots, including fullback. Entering a contract year, the Texans could have drafted Stover as Jordan’s replacement once free agency hits next offseason.
CJ Stroud on former Ohio State teammate, now current #Texans teammate Cade Stover pic.twitter.com/ZFq2FRP56i
— Shaun Bijani (@ShaunBijani) July 18, 2024
It’s still early in camp, but the former linebacker-turned-tight end has caught his quarterback’s attention while running with the second-team offense.
“He’s been doing really well out here blocking, catching, running good routes,” Stroud said. “He’s owning the offense, which is really exciting to see.”
While Stroud likely won’t suit up, fans will probably get a first glace of Stover when the Texans take on Chicago in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on August 1.