When the season officially ended for the Ohio State Buckeyes, many assumed star quarterback C.J. Stroud had an extremely easy decision to make regarding his future. After all, he was a projected top-five pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. But Stroud did not make his draft decision hastily as rumors and reports began to surface that he was actually seriously considering a return to Ohio State. But ultimately, the allure of the NFL won out.
On Monday morning, the last day for underclassmen to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft, C.J. Stroud officially announced that he will not be returning to Ohio State after all, and will be entering the upcoming NFL Draft. However, Stroud did acknowledge that it was an extremely difficult decision.
Proverbs 3:5,6 pic.twitter.com/FdA2ftqQFJ
— CJ Stroud (@CJ7STROUD) January 16, 2023
“This process has been difficult, and the decision, one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make. As a kid, I dreamed of playing football at the highest level and after much prayer, I’ve made the decision that it’s time to turn those dreams into a reality,” Stroud said in his draft declaration post.
Stroud is projected as a sure top-five pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and is widely regarded as the No. 2 quarterback in the class, behind former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young.
