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Marvin Harrison Jr. dubs CJ Stroud Rookie of the Year after Texans clinch playoff berth

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•01/06/24•

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Marvin Harrison Jr. by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud (left) and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (right) celebrate at Michigan State during the 2022 season. Harrison is one of the current Buckeyes players helping out with this year's Pro Day. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Every single Houston Texans game this season has begun at 1 p.m. ET. There has been no opportunity for CJ Stroud to be in the limelight despite having an incredible rookie season. Well, the rest of the country got to see how special Stroud is with a win-and-in victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night.

You would assume most people tuned in to see who would be heading into the playoffs. Marvin Harrison Jr. specifically turned on ESPN to watch Stroud play and boy did he deliver. Stroud was clinical all night and it prompted Harrison to call his former Ohio State quarterback the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Harrison is likely going to be correct, with Stroud being the heavy favorite at the moment. But he still had to vocalize his support after the great game against the Colts. The tweet from Harrison will soon become a reality, no matter how far Houston goes in the playoffs.

Stroud was on the sideline late in the season due to an injury but came back and propelled Houston into the playoffs. He finished 20 of 26 against the Colts, throwing for 264 yards and two touchdowns. On the very first play of the game, Stroud connected with Nico Collins for a 75-yard bomb to get an early 7-0 lead.

From the moment the Texans’ offense stepped on the field, it was on.

Winning Offensive Rookie of the Year is a lot more than just one game, though. Stroud surpassed 4,000 yards for the season and has the opportunity to have the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in all of the NFL. Rookies being able to pull those numbers off is usually unheard of.

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Houston certainly has its franchise quarterback after selecting him No. 2 overall. After losing the No. 1 overall pick on the final day of the 2022 season and then jumped by Carolina for the same selection during the draft process, the Texans are happy with how things played out.

As for Harrison, you have to imagine he would love to get back on the field with Stroud. Unfortunately for him and folks in Houston, it’s unlikely. They do not own a first-round pick this year after trading up to select Will Anderson in 2023. Another great move from general manager Nick Caserio.

Maybe one day down the road in free agency. But for now, CJ Stroud and Marvin Harrison Jr. will continue to admire each other’s games from afar.