C.J. Stroud Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud prepares to throw during Ohio State football s pro day at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus on March 22, 2023. Football Ceb Osufb Pro Day

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud faced plenty of criticism entering the 2023 NFL Draft, especially after rumors that he scored poorly on the S2 cognitive test during pre-draft evaluations. But ultimately, Stroud was still selected No. 2 overall, and he sure sounds confident heading into his first season with the Houston Texans.

During an interview with NFL insider Peter King of Pro Football Talk, C.J. Stroud had a clear message to anybody doubting his ability to process the game: “The film speaks for itself.”

“A lot of people haven’t played the sport, and I mean critics are gonna critique,” Stroud told King. “For me I know the film speaks for itself. Everything that I’ve done in college, I’ve been very consistent. I think I’ve been one of the most consistent players in college football for the last two years. If you turn on the tape, you can see, you can answer the questions. But those who don’t understand tape might want to go to other things and analyze other things. They’re more than welcome to do such. But the people who are making the choices and the picks, they knew what I can do. They understood the IQ that I do have.”

Stroud certainly sounds confident. We’ll have to see how that confidence translates to the NFL field.

[Pro Football Talk]