CJ Stroud discusses making trip back home, playing in Rose Bowl

Ohio State quarterback and Heisman finalist CJ Stroud is a California native ready to return home for the Rose Bowl against Utah on New Year’s Day. As he prepares for the homecoming trip, Stroud took time to remember his childhood experience in the Los Angeles area.

“It’s a blessing, man,” Stroud said during his Heisman Trophy ceremony press conference. “I never really thought about playing in the Rose Bowl before, I always watched it on TV growing up. I never got to go, but I’ve been to UCLA games. So I’ve been in the stadium before. Being able to play at home is a blessing, I’m definitely going to take advantage of it.”

Stroud came to Ohio State as a four-star recruit from Rancho Cucamonga, California, located 40 miles east of Los Angeles. After spending his freshman season behind first-round draft pick Justin Fields, he has emerged as one of college football’s best starters as a sophomore.

CJ Stroud will lead Ohio State in its first Rose Bowl appearance since the 2018 season, when the Buckeyes beat the Washington Huskies. In the 2019 and 2020 Ohio State won the Big Ten but was selected for the College Football Playoff and participated in the Fiesta Bowl and Sugar Bowl.

CJ Stroud on Heisman idols

As a kid, C.J. Stroud dreamed about winning the Heisman Trophy. Some of his biggest heroes were recipients of the award — players Stroud only hoped to emulate in their success.

Now, Stroud has a chance to join his heroes as a Heisman Trophy winner. Prior to finding out if his name is called on Saturday, the Ohio State star revealed which winners he looked up to in his youth.

“Once I really found out that I really loved football, I really was like, OK, this is crazy — people can really be the best player in college football. So, I watched the trophies be given out and I watched players that I look up to, like DeShaun Watson. I know he didn’t win one, but he was up here,” stated Stroud. “And I really looked up to him, Lamar, RGII — I actually got to talk to RGIII when I was getting recruited by Baylor. He had a lot of good things to say about winning the Heisman and things like that.

“Growing up, I was a basketball kid. I loved football, but I loved basketball more. I didn’t really realize that until I got to high school that I wanted to play football.”