CJ Stroud reveals mentality on leadership

What we’ve seen from Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud on the field is nothing short of greatness, as he’s one of the best returning quarterbacks in college football and a top NFL prospect of the 2023 draft class. But we don’t see is his leadership off the field, which he discussed at Big Ten media day.

“If you ask me what a quarterback is, I definitely think I would definitely say a leader. I think on and off the field, I think off the field is probably more important, you build trust. I think leadership is all about trust, if I have trust in my guys they’ll do anything for me and I’ll do anything fro them so I do invite a lot of my teammates over, either side of the ball, even if you’re a specialist I don’t care, lineman. I’ll either cook something or order something and we just eat, have a good time, talk, play the game, do whatever, just have fun and be boys. So I definitely think it’s important to build that trust off the field so on the field we just ride for each other,” Stroud said.

Stroud added that he’s established himself as a vocal leader of the team, and believes that accountability is a two way street.

“Honestly I think I do everything, I’m very vocal, sometimes I think I’m too vocal, I try to keep it real just because I feel like those who keep it real with you in your life are the ones that do care. I try to call my guys out but I often tell them to call me out if I’m doing something wrong just because I like constructive criticism as well,” Stroud said.

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Stroud is a jack of all trades when it comes to leadership, being not only a vocal one, but one that can lead by example and relate to everyone on his team.

“Lead by example type as well, first one in last one out, watch a lot of film, and I could probably tell the defense what the offense is going to do just off of film, I do watch a lot,” Stroud said. “It’s other things I have in my leadership ability and I think probably the most important one is being able to relate, I can relate to everybody on the team from different cultures to different backgrounds, you name it and I can relate to them in some type of way or I can understand where they come from and put myself in their shoes.”

The Buckeyes are hoping Stroud’s leadership can take them over the hump this season and get them back into the College Football Playoff conversation.