C.J. Stroud reveals how he stays loyal to his faith

Being the starting quarterback at any big-time school in college football, it can be tough to stay grounded and levelheaded. For Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, he comes from a religious family and his father was a pastor, before going to prison. Stroud’s faith has played a critical role in the majority of his life and his relationship with God has only strengthened while at Ohio State. On Thursday, Stroud discussed with reporters about balancing his faith with the whirlwind that is being a starting quarterback at such a high-profile program like Ohio State.

You can read the transcribed version of his quotes below or just watch the YouTube video below from 6:49 until the end of the video.

“Yeah, it’s hard to balance. Definitely gotta keep solid people around me. My uncle runs a bible study every Thursday called TTOG and he has a foundation called All About Faith, his name is Art Hall. Back home near Empire [California]. And I get on the zoom with him every Thursday and talk to him weekly. He sends me prayers and sends me scriptures,” Stroud said.

“But it is hard to stay in line just because you have ball, then you have school and then after that you kind of have your free time. But I always try to wake up in the morning and pray. Make sure I invite him in my day first and foremost. And then just continue prayer throughout the day. If that means reading a Bible scripture on my phone or if that means talking to some of my fellow brothers in Christ on the team. Just keep a little Bible study, whatever the case may be. Just a fellowship in any which way. That kinda helps,” Stroud said.

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Stroud has put up elite numbers this year and the preseason favorite to win the 2022 Heisman Trophy is still firmly in the mix. ESPN’s Robert Griffin III listed Stroud as second in the Heisman race on Thursday, right behind Tennessee signal-caller Hendon Hooker. Thus far, Stroud has completed 70.6 percent of his passes for 1,737 yards, while tossing in 24 touchdowns (tied for first in the nation) and just three interceptions. His QBR of 94.4 currently leads the nation as well.

Ohio State faces Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 22. Kickoff is slated for noon EST. The game will be nationally televised on FOX.