C.J. Stroud sweeps top B1G offensive awards to cap remarkable freshman year
COLUMBUS — C.J. Stroud was chasing team goals, and Ohio State came up short.
But the work the redshirt quarterback did to keep the Buckeyes in position until the final week of the regular season was still good enough to earn a pile of individual honors.
The first year in the starting lineup was a wildly productive one for Stroud, and he capped it by being named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year on Tuesday. He also scooped up the Freshman and Quarterback of the Year hardware from the league voters, honors that were never truly in doubt after he lapped the field statistically.
Stroud would surely trade them all for a trip to Indianapolis on Saturday. But after losing to rival Michigan last weekend, that opportunity will have to wait until next season if Ohio State can claim one more victory with him at the helm.
“I know we came up short, but I’m still proud of my guys for fighting hard and trying to pull something magical out,” Stroud said on Saturday. “Of course, at the end of the day this is the worst feeling you could possibly have. I know people probably hate me for it. But at the end of the day, I know deep down in my heart that I put everything into this, I put my body on the line and put everything I possibly could win this game.
“Whatever happens, happens. Just know that I love this team. I love Ohio State. I love Buckeye Nation. I know every single day, I’m gonna keep grinding just to get this win back.”
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The loss will cast a long shadow on the offseason for Stroud and the Buckeyes, and that will clearly serve as a motivation heading into a bowl game and into workouts for next year.
But Ohio State still posted a double-digit win total behind one of the most impressive offensive attacks in the country. And those Buckeyes earned a handful of honors for that work from the Big Ten as tribute.
That started with the leader at quarterback in C.J. Stroud. But he had plenty of award-winning company at Ohio State.
C.J. Stroud leads Ohio State All-Big Ten selections
First Team
- QB C.J. Stroud (unanimous)
- WR Chris Olave (coaches)
- OL Thayer Munford (unanimous)
- OL Nicholas Petit-Frere (unanimous)
Second Team
- WR Garrett Wilson (unanimous)
- WR Chris Olave (media)
- RB TreVeyon Henderson (unanimous)
- OL Paris Johnson (coaches)
- OL Dawand Jones (media)
Third Team
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (unanimous)
- OL Dawand Jones (coaches)
- OL Paris Johnson (media)
Honorable Mention
- TE Jeremy Ruckert (unanimous)
- OL Luke Wypler (media)
- OL Matthew Jones (media)
