Penn State’s James Franklin: Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud is ‘leading the Heisman race for a reason’
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Three years ago, Ohio State coach Ryan Day didn’t join Justin Fields, Chase Young and JK Dobbins at ESPN’s college football awards show. Day admitted this week he was fined for missing the event but said whatever he had to pay was “well worth it.” Why? Because he skipped to recruit quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Safe to say that decision paid off.
Stroud is one of the best players in college football. Last year, his first as Ohio State’s starter, Stroud broke 17 school records. He was the Big Ten’s offensive player of the year and an All-American after throwing for 4,435 yards and 44 touchdowns. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist, and he’s in line to be invited back to New York this year.
Stroud leads the second-most prolific scoring offense in the FBS (49.6 points per game). He ranks first nationally in passing touchdowns (28) and quarterback rating (203.9). His 10.6 yards per attempt are second only to Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker. After a fourth-place finish in 2021, Stroud’s hot start through seven games has made him the betting favorite for the coveted bronze statue.
“At the end of the day, their trigger man is what makes them go,” Penn State coach James Franklin said of Stroud at his Tuesday press conference ahead of Saturday’s matchup between No. 13 Penn State and No. 2 Ohio State. “He’s the one who distributes the ball to all those different playmakers and does a really good job doing it. He throws on the run as well as he throws from the pocket, which is somewhat unusual. He’s leading the Heisman race for a reason. Talented guy who we have a ton of respect for.”
Franklin mentioned the playmakers the Buckeyes have, and they certainly make Stroud’s life easier.
Last year, Ohio State had eventual first-round draft picks at receiver in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson working with rising star Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Buckeyes have had no problem reloading their offense even with Smith-Njigba hampered by injury. Marvin Harrison Jr. (598 yards, 10 TDs) has become a stud. So have Emeka Egbuka (735 yards, 7 TDs) and former Penn State target Julian Fleming (327 yards, 6 TDs).
Franklin noted it’s not just the flashy receivers who have led to Ohio State’s success. The Buckeyes own an average margin of victory of 34.7 points because their running game, spearheaded by Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson, has been effective. The offensive line, which doesn’t have a player under 300 pounds and features 6-foot-8, 360-pound tackle Dawand Jones, also has dominated.
Ohio State does “a good job of being balanced,” Franklin said. And yet, Penn State’s head coach knows it all comes back to Stroud.
Even beyond the Heisman conversation, Stroud is considered by some to be the top overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. You could argue Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is better. But, at that point, you’re splitting hairs. This is a player who can do more than win a game for you. He can win a national championship.
It’ll be up to Joey Porter Jr., Kalen King, Ji’Ayir Brown and Penn State’s vaunted secondary — one that leads the country in pass breakups — to be the immovable object to Ohio State’s unstoppable force.
“You could make the argument that the strength of our defense is in the secondary, if you were ranking all three levels. That’s a strength of ours for sure,” Franklin said. “We have a lot of confidence in those guys, and we’re going to need it.”