After Ohio State's 2022 season ended, C.J. Stroud had to make a decision about his future: Enter the NFL draft or return to the Buckeyes for another year.
Stroud ultimately chose to turn pro as a potential top-five pick, but he didn't make that choice official until Jan. 16, the last day players could declare for the draft. That's because he considered staying at Ohio State for a fourth season in 2023.
"I was honestly gonna come back to school," Stroud said at the NFL Scouting Combine on Friday. "It was really hard for me to leave a place like Ohio State, where it takes time to get to where I was at. It takes a lot of homework, a lot of trust and a lot of building camaraderie off the field. That's something you can't throw in the trash right away. I don't feel like I did that. Coming to the league was a smart decision for me, but it was really hard."
"I was honestly gonna come back to school. It was really hard for me to leave a place like Ohio State."– C.J. Stroud
Stroud, whose name is featured in the Ohio State record book for the second-most passing yards, touchdown passes and passes completed in program history, said several factors made the decision more difficult. Among them were that he never beat Michigan, won a national championship or hoisted a Heisman Trophy.
"Not beating That Team Up North, not winning a national championship. Those were two goals of mine," Stroud said. "And then, of course, not winning the Heisman was, I feel, because of those losses. That kind of hurts. I feel like I could have won two Heismans back-to-back if I were to win those two games.
"At the end of the day, man, it's a part of God's plan, and I don't question that. It put a little more fire on me, another chip on my shoulder. I'm excited to go to the league and do better things than that because that wasn't in God's plan, so let's see what the league has for me now."
Stroud is expected to be one of the first three quarterbacks drafted in 2023, along with Alabama's Bryce Young and Kentucky's Will Levis. How he performs at the combine could determine whether he is the No. 1 player selected at his position.
The Inland Empire, California, native is considered the best pure passer in the draft and could strengthen that case with an efficient throwing session at Lucas Oil Stadium. However, questions remain regarding how Stroud will perform in athletic testing, as his lack of running at Ohio State is the biggest knock against him compared to other top quarterbacks in the class.
Stroud is scheduled to work out at the combine between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday and will receive his measurables sometime before that session. As of Friday, Stroud plans to participate in every workout, including the 40-yard dash, a drill his teammates Zach Harrison and Jaxon Smith-Njigba opted out of this week.
