Quarterback CJ Stroud reveals differences between Ohio State, NFL leadership

Taken with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud is doing what he can to quickly blend in with his new team, the Houston Texans.

He likened the process to growing up, taking the next step in a series of phases in life. Ohio State was the last phase, Houston is the next.

“I think I was a boy then, trying to be a young man,” Stroud said of his time with the Buckeyes. “And now I am a young man trying to be a man’s man. I think I’ve stepped in here and I think I’ve gained respect of the team just being myself.”

Stroud was lights out the last two years at Ohio State, totaling 8,123 yards passing with 85 touchdowns and just 12 total interceptions. Stroud wasn’t quite as much of a rushing threat as many of his peers in the 2023 draft class, logging only 108 yards rushing during the 2022 campaign.

Still, he’s got all the tools to be an elite quarterback in the NFL. Certainly that’s what the Texans were counting on when they drafted him.

So how has quarterback CJ Stroud gone about integrating with the team?

“I haven’t tried anything extra, done anything,” he said. “There’s some similarities at Ohio State and some with the Texans now, but honestly I think ultimately I’m just being myself and I think everybody’s gravitated toward that. “

A third-team All-American in 2021 and a second-team All-American in 2022, Stroud didn’t get quite the hype and recognition as some of the other quarterbacks in his draft class.

He was, however, a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2021 and 2022. He guided Ohio State to a playoff berth in his junior season, as well.

But what the former Ohio State standout is focused on isn’t the accolades or the stats or even where he ranks against the quarterbacks he came out with. Instead, quarterback CJ Stroud is simply focused on fitting in and meshing with the team so he’s ready to roll when his number is called.

“I think even more important than how I play on the field is being a leader, building that winning culture that we want here, swarming around and doing things that coach (DeMeco) Ryans wants us to do and coach (Bobby) Slowik on offense,” Stroud said.