Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud is entering the 2022 college football season as the betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and the top quarterback prospect in the vast majority of 2023 NFL mock draft boards.
Apparently, none of that matters to Anthony Treash of Pro Football Focus.
PFF released a list of Treash’s top-10 quarterbacks on Wednesday and Stroud was all the way down at fourth, behind Alabama’s Bryce Young, USC’s Caleb Williams, and South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler.
https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1547296552707768320
Obviously, the low ranking caught the attention of a couple of Stroud’s former and current teammates. Former Ohio State defensive end Tyreke Smith, who was recently drafted by the Seattle Seahawks, said “this a joke ?” while current Ohio State defensive tackle Taron Vincent responded to the list with a meme.
This a joke ?😂 https://t.co/84m5LvNyqv
— Tyreke Smith (@T_23_baller) July 13, 2022
https://t.co/3JVUA45UlM pic.twitter.com/AVapa7PZiW
— Taron Vincent (@t_lova23) July 13, 2022
The rest of the college football world reacted to the list similarly, wondering how Stroud was so low and doubting the validity of the rankings.
Top 10 QBs at what? https://t.co/FumqTMdciU
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) July 13, 2022
These lists have now just become troll contests for engagement.
But here I am … engaging. https://t.co/SpIlyoamXr
— Woody Wommack (@RivalsWoody) July 13, 2022
Ah yes, let's put the quarterback who lost to Kansas and the guy who lost his job to the guy who lost to Kansas ahead of Heisman Trophy Finalist C.J. Stroud. Totally makes a lot of sense and is definitely a rational take! https://t.co/GidKfz0mVb
— Scarlet & Game (@ScarletAndGame) July 13, 2022
Imagine getting benched for playing poorly, transferring to a tougher conference, and somehow ending up ranked third on this list. Lol. https://t.co/AViH3YvmOj
— Daniel Fair (@DanFair88) July 13, 2022
Spencer Rattler over CJ Stroud is something https://t.co/jMd9IrMLam
— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) July 13, 2022
— John Sabol (@John_Sabol) July 13, 2022
Would you like some wrong sauce on this incorrect burger? https://t.co/lb31WAOdbj
— Dave Biddle (@davebiddle) July 13, 2022
Last season, Stroud finished the year ranked in the top five nationally in completion percentage, total passing yardage, yards per pass, passing touchdowns, and passer rating all while throwing only six interceptions on the year.
In his last start in the Rose Bowl against Utah, Stroud finished the game 37-for-46 for 573 yards and six touchdowns – becoming the first player in Ohio State history ever to pass for more than 500 yards in a single game.
Stroud will have a chance to prove PFF wrong immediately when Ohio State takes on Notre Dame to open its season.
