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Buckeyes officially tab C.J. Stroud as starting quarterback

Austin-Wardby:Austin Ward•08/21/21•

AWardSports

CJ Stroud 2 by Birm-Lettermen Row
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud will be the next starter for the Buckeyes. (Birm/Lettermen Row)

COLUMBUS — The separation for C.J. Stroud in the quarterback race is now official: The redshirt freshman will be the next starter at Ohio State.

The Buckeyes publicly announced the widely-anticipated designation after practice on Saturday morning, signaling that the shift from Training Camp Mode into preparations for the season opener is underway.

With less than two weeks remaining until the Buckeyes begin their defense of the Big Ten crown at Minnesota, the coaching staff removed whatever uncertainty remained at the most important position on the roster by tabbing Stroud for the job.

“We are going to name C.J. Stroud the starting quarterback for the Minnesota game,” Day said. “I thought over the body of work … separated himself.”

C.J. Stroud-Ohio State-Buckeyes-Ohio State football
Ohio State will open the season with C.J. Stroud as the starting quarterback. (Birm/Lettermen Row)

Stroud has been the odds-on favorite for the role since the end of last season after he had earned the backup job behind Justin Fields as a true freshman.

Since then, Stroud had continued to lead the line in every individual drill dating back to spring camp. He had consistently been getting the first snaps in team periods whenever practices were open for media viewing. And he had drawn rave reviews for his work ethic and leadership during offseason conditioning and summer throwing sessions with the wide receivers.

The Buckeyes still didn’t want to rush to a final decision in a three-man battle that included classmate Jack Miller and a strong push from true freshman Kyle McCord. But Stroud never did anything to give away his lead in the race, even if he never personally acknowledged having one.

“Nah, I feel like I’m last, like I’m in the back,” Stroud said before camp opened earlier this month. “I take that mindset, because I’ve had that mindset since I was little to have a chip on my shoulder. That’s just kind of where I come from — always the underdog. I like that feeling. So, even if I am the frontrunner, it really doesn’t matter to me.

“I just want to be able to go out there and play the game that I love.”

That opportunity is on the way for C.J. Stroud now. And he’s officially in line for the first Ohio State snap of the season.

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