OSU’S Stroud has had eventful offseason
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud drove off the lot of the Sarchione luxuryvehicle dealership in a $200,000 Mercedes G-wagon. It was part of an endorsement agreement with the Belden Village business.
The Merdeces was a “game-day decision.” Initially, Stroud was supposed to take a $150,000 Bentley Bentayga back to Columbus.
Apparently some negotiating took place. When you are a leading candidate to win the 2022 Heisman Trophy, you only have to twist an arm so hard.
After spending part of the afternoon signing things and saying hellos, Stroud — a California native — broke for an interview with The Canton Repository.
“I wanted to challenge myself with whatever might be the hardest challenge,” he said. “I thought coming to Ohio State would be hard for me. I think It has been hard.
“It’s probably been the best decision of my life, coming to Ohio State, becoming a young man, living on my own. Of course, I miss family and stuff like that. But I’ve learned so much. I’ll continue to learn more this year.”
In 2021, Ohio State named Stroud starting QB over Jack Miller III and Kyle Mccord. With him behind center, the Buckeyes lost Game 2 to Oregon.
“I came away from that believing I have God-given talent,” Stroud said. “I feel God wouldn’t have placed me at Ohio State if I wasn’t ready. My teammates have a lot of trust in me. So did my coaches.
“I feel I played well in that game ... of course, not well enough to get the win. But I gave my heart out, and that’s all you can ask for.”
He won his next eight starts, capped by a monster performance against
Michigan State (32-of-35, 432 yards, six TDS, no interceptions). After a deflating loss at Michigan, he had a big bowl game against Utah (573 yards, six TDS).
“I felt like a veteran last year, honestly,” he said. “I’ve been playing football a long time. I realize I’m not half as experienced as certain people in our building, but I’m willing to learn everything they can teach me. Our coaches are the veterans I kind of lean on.
“I don’t feel like last year I was, like ... so confident in myself. But I felt I had enough to have a decent season. This year I’m coming in more confident.”
The season opens on Sept. 3 against
Notre Dame.
“Between now and (summer practice), I’m going to go somewhere and work out,” Stroud said. “I had a little vacation time. I went to the Virgin Islands. That was my first vacation I’ve ever been on. It was an amazing time.
“I don’t really believe in vacation. Even on vacation, I try to get in some kind of workout in or watch film.”
He’s not the only Ohio State player aiming to improve this offseason, so how good can the 2022 Buckeyes be by opening day?
“I don’t want to tell the world, so I might keep this to myself,” Stroud said. “As long as we handle our business and put in the work, whatever God has planned for us will happen.”
Stroud played high school ball for Rancho Cucamonga, about 40 miles east of Los Angeles. He has come a long way already, in more ways than one.
For that reason, he was to drive a $200,000 car off a Stark County lot, on his way back to Columbus.
Was he nervous?
“I’ve been driving since I was 9,” Stroud said. “I come from California, where you learn to drive in traffic with a lot of people who drive it off the road. So I’m not worried about it.”