The Ohio State football team had a prolific passing attack back in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. They were led by C.J. Stroud during those seasons. Stroud had the best game of his career in his final game in the Peach Bowl against Georgia, although he ultimately lost that game.
Stroud has a complicated Ohio State legacy because he never won a game of consequence. He never beat Michigan and was never the starter in a win in a College Football Playoff game. Yet, he was supremely talented and clearly one of the best passers the Buckeyes have ever seen.
By all accounts, he was a great teammate and never caused any sort of problems. He was the ultimate leader. A media member in Houston is now claiming that while he was with the Ohio State Buckeyes, he never talked to his offensive coordinator.
Houston media member claims C.J. Stroud never spoke to his Ohio State offensive coordinator
According to Houston local radio host Lance Zierlein, Stroud would not speak to offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson while he was with Ohio State and only communicated with Ryan Day. He claims it's because Stroud didn't think that Wilson knew ball.
CJ Stroud & Bobby Slowik's relationship started with an altercation. Listen to ESPN 97.5 🎙️ Host Lance Zierlein's story ICYMI yesterday 👇 pic.twitter.com/tU2GcWELZp
— Robert Land | Houston Sports Talk Podcast Host (@HSTPodcast) January 28, 2025
This seems extremely far-fetched to say. There was never a report of that while he was with Ohio State. Of course, the majority of his conversations were with Day because he was the play-caller. He was the one who still made all of the decisions on the offensive side of the ball at that time.
Wilson was the co-OC and tight ends coach while he was with the Buckeyes. Stroud wouldn't have much of a reason to have too many in-depth conversations with him. Do I believe he wouldn't call him by name? I do not. This just seems like something that was made up.
Stroud had a poor second season in the NFL this past year, although he did win a playoff game, and that's why Houston fired Bobby Slowik. Zierlein also claims that Stroud got into it with Slowik during his draft visit. To me, it just seems like this radio host is trying to carry water for Slowik.
Stroud had flaws in his time at Ohio State, but this wasn't one of them.