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Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud entered the 2022 college football season as one of the top prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft.
With a 6-foot-3, 218-pound frame, a strong arm and pinpoint accuracy, it isn’t hard to see why.
Stroud backed up that status during the season. He threw for 3,688 yards, 41 touchdowns and just six interceptions. The California native led one of the nation’s most explosive offenses and did so without the help of superstar wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was injured for most of the year.
But it was Stroud’s semifinal performance against the Georgia Bulldogs that really turned heads. The Buckeyes ace showed his ability to improvise outside the structure of the offense and looked like a future superstar. He went 23-of-34 for 348 yards, four touchdown and no picks. Stroud also scrambled for a number of key first downs.
The incredible performance against the eventual national champs had some believing that he could go No. 1 overall in the next NFL Draft.
But now they’re wondering if he’ll go anywhere at all.
C.J. Stroud Has Not Yet Entered The 2023 NFL Draft
Monday is the final day for underclassmen to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft. To this point, Stroud has yet to do so.
The move had previously been seen as a mere formality, but the longer he waits, the more fans wonder if a shock decision may instead be coming.
CJ Stroud officially has less than 48 hours to decide if he is going to enter the NFL Draft or stay at OSU.
A decision that could potentially have a HUGE impact on this year’s Draft 👀 pic.twitter.com/C0Ys8Acs2D
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) January 15, 2023
https://twitter.com/nflstir/status/1614697564288303108?s=20&t=AN4GkzO9n71AoX_2PfYa6Q
I think them coming so close to beating uga makes him want to stay. They didnt lose much to the draft this year either https://t.co/YyNsI2FAK3
— tee⚜️ (@mudboytee2x) January 16, 2023
Rumors of CJ Stroud returning back to Ohio State for one more year are heating up this morning. Stay tuned.
— Josh Taylor (@JoshTaylorFB) January 16, 2023
https://twitter.com/HotTakeTommy2/status/1613743925801672707?s=20&t=AN4GkzO9n71AoX_2PfYa6Q
In the age of NIL in college sports, Stroud’s decision could be made a little more difficult. He already has an endorsement deal with Columbus-based fashion retailer Express and could stand to make millions more should he return.
On the other hand, the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft will likely land a signing bonus north of $20 million. And the 2024 quarterback class is much deeper.
Still, Stroud’s clock is ticking and he could well drop a bombshell on the football world.