College football is a quarterback-driven sport now, and it’s not even close. Sure, there are teams out there that still win with the fundamentals of the game and with ball-control offenses, but it’s hard to win anything special without a dynamic playmaker under center.
It’s no secret Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud is one of those special athletes that could take this year’s Buckeye squad to some pretty lofty places including a Big Ten championship, College Football Playoff appearance, and national title.
But it’s one thing for Ohio State fans and coaches to think that, it’s another when opposing coaches heap praise on a player because you know it’s genuine.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg spoke to anonymous college football coaches to get feedback on quarterbacks and the attention turned to the Big Ten at one point. And while we don’t know which coach it is that provided praise, it was pretty telling. So much so that this “veteran” coach went as far as to say Stroud might be in a stratosphere of his own.
“He’s pretty special,” a veteran Big Ten coach told Rittenberg. “He’s the best one they’ve had since I’ve been here. They’ll be hard to beat with him.”
We don’t know what the definition of veteran is, but that would make you believe that it’s a coach that is one of the more tenured in the Big Ten. That would most likely mean that the coach is including at least a couple of great quarterbacks in Justin Fields and Dwayne Haskins, maybe even J.T. Barrett. All of which were pretty special.
Nov 6, 2021; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) looks to throw a pass during the second quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Heading into the season, Stroud is one of the favorites for the Heisman Trophy, has talent around him to succeed in his second full year under center, and might just end up being the first pick in next year’s NFL draft. If all that he is — and all that he can still be — comes together, don’t be surprised if this year is a truly memorable one on the banks of the Olentangy.
After all, opposing coaches are even singing his praises.
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