Buckeye Nation Reacts As C.J. Stroud, Paris Johnson Jr. And Jaxon Smith-Njigba Are Selected in the First Round of the 2023 NFL Draft

By Griffin Strom on April 27, 2023 at 9:15 pm
C.J. Stroud
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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Buckeye dreams are coming true in Kansas City.

C.J. Stroud became the highest-drafted quarterback in Ohio State history Thursday when the Houston Texans selected the two-time Heisman Trophy finalist No. 2 overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Just four picks later, the Arizona Cardinals traded up to take unanimous All-American tackle Paris Johnson Jr. at No. 6 overall. Johnson became the highest-drafted Ohio State tackle since Orlando Pace. Stroud and Johnson gave the Buckeyes their four pair of top-six picks in program history, and their second of the past four years.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the first wide receiver taken in the 2023 NFL draft when the Seattle Seahawks selected the record-setting Ohio State wideout with the No. 20 overall pick. Smith-Njigba is the third first-round receiver out of OSU in the past two years alone, with Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave both going in the first round in 2022.

As the Buckeyes came off the board, Twitter exploded as teammates, family members, friends and supporters chimed in to congratulate Stroud and Johnson on the biggest moment of their careers. Check out the best reactions below:

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