Ohio State football: C.J. Stroud is the Big Ten’s best quarterback
By Del Barris
Ohio State football quarterback C.J. Stroud is the Big Ten’s best quarterback. There I said it. He isn’t just the Big Ten’s best, he’s the Big Ten’s best by far. Before you jump to disagree, take a look around the conference and then tell me I’m wrong.
Stroud leads the Big Ten in passing efficiency and yards per game by a wide margin. His eighteen touchdown passes tie him for the league lead with Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa, but he has played three fewer games. In his first three starts, he showed flashes of his ability, including throwing for nearly 500 yards against Oregon, but struggled as well.
He was skittish and erratic early in games and struggled to hit deep passes to open receivers. His shoulder had been bothering him since camp, so he was given the week off against Akron. When he returned he looked like a different quarterback.
Stroud’s numbers against Rutgers and Maryland are eye-popping. He was 41-56 for 736 yards and ten touchdowns. What I like most is ZERO interceptions. He’s taking care of the ball and throwing it away when necessary. He looks in complete command of the offense and is placing his throws where his receivers can make something happen after the catch. When he’s had to fit the ball into a tight window, he’s done just that.
Still not convinced? Go ahead, let’s throw out a few names. Michael Pennix of Indiana? After last season, he looked poised to be the most dominant quarterback in the conference. So far this season, he’s completed less than 54% of his passes and thrown seven interceptions in five games.
Penix, like the Hoosiers, has been less than impressive in 2020. Nebraska’s Adrian Martinez? He’s quietly having his best season to date but is still not on the same plane as Stroud. Graham Mertz of Wisconsin and Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan? Both have been disappointments-Mertz in particular.
How about Sean Clifford of Penn State and Spencer Petras of Iowa? Really? Those two? Did you see them matched against each other last week? They’re game managers, not game-changers. Nothing wrong with a game manager, but there is nothing special about these two.
Michigan’s Cade McNamara? Not even close. The only one you can make an argument for being anywhere near Stroud is Payton Thorne of Michigan State, but he is still eighteen points behind in passing efficiency and averages 77 yards less per game.
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C.J. Stroud is the Big Ten’s best quarterback and it’s not even close. He’s improved immensely in the last two games, but here is the scary part for the teams remaining on the Ohio State football team’s schedule: he’s not even close to being as good as he’s capable. Scary for opponents. Exciting for Buckeye fans.