Ohio State Football: C.J. Stroud named Heisman finalist

The Ohio State football team may have had a disappointing finish to their season as a team, but some individuals had some really good seasons. One of those individuals is C.J. Stroud. The Buckeye quarterback had a truly phenomenal freshman season.

Stroud was the best quarterback in the Big Ten and he showed it. He won Quarterback of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Player of the Year in the Big Ten. He’s the only Buckeye to have ever accomplished that feat. Now, he gets an even bigger honor.

Stroud will be in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. He was named a finalist for the award. While not surprising, it’s still a big honor. Stroud deserves it too, having thrown for 3,862 yards, 38 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. He was a weapon on the field.

Because Stroud was so good, Ohio State had the number one offense in the country. While it didn’t allow them to make the College Football Playoff, Stroud still deserves to get some recognition for his great play. Being a Heisman finalist certainly does that.

I would be shocked if Stroud won the award. It’s extremely likely that Bryce Young out of Alabama will win it. Even so, this sets the stage for how good Stroud can be. He’s just a freshman and should only get better. He can use this season as a learning experience for next year.

Stroud very well could be back in New York next season too. How well the team around him succeeds is up to Ryan Day and how he handles things. Stroud just has to develop and get better in the offseason, and the Ohio State football team should once again have a really good offense.

We’ll certainly let you know how the ceremony goes this weekend and whether or not Stroud will win it or not.