Stroud was a five-star prospect and the No. 2-ranked pro-style QB coming out of Rancho Cucamonga High School in California. Thus, he had no shortage of suitors, including Georgia, Michigan, USC, and UCLA, but he ultimately committed to the Ohio State University.
With Justin Fields entrenched as the starter in 2020, Stroud spent his true freshman on the sideline. Fields left for the draft that offseason, and Stroud beat out Kyle McCord, Jack Miller III, and Quinn Ewers for the starting spot. And once he took the reigns of the offense in 2021, he never looked back.
That season, the CA native completed 317 of 441 attempts (72% completion rate) for 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns, and six interceptions. The Buckeyes finished with an 11-2 record (losses to Oregon and Michigan) and a Rose Bowl victory over Utah.
The accolades piled up, as Stroud earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and Big Ten QB of the Year and was a Heisman Trophy finalist. He was also the only quarterback in OSU history to throw five touchdowns against a Big Ten opponent four times in a single season.
Sure, having future first-rounders Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at his disposal was a boon, but Stroud’s accuracy and control of the offense were never in question.
Expectations were high entering his junior campaign, but Stroud met them head-on.
He amassed 3,688 yards and 41 TDs through the air vs. just six INTs, becoming the first Big Ten QB to have back-to-back seasons with 30+ TDs and Ohio State’s only two-time Heisman finalist. Although the Buckeyes once again fell to their bitter rivals, the Wolverines, they made the postseason dance as the No. 4 seed.
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That, of course, meant a date with the No. 1-seeded Georgia Bulldogs. The Buckeyes fell in a 42-41 instant-classic playoff game, and Stroud’s performance — 23 of 34 for 348 yards, four TDs, and no turnovers — against one of the greatest defenses to grace a collegiate field all but solidified his draft stock.
Stroud announced his decision to enter the draft on Jan. 17, 2023, officially ending his Buckeyes career. Here’s a quick snapshot of his most prominent program records:
- Single-game yards (573 in 2021 vs. Utah)
- Single-game touchdown passes (6 two times vs. Michigan State and also vs. Utah)
- Single-season completion rate (71.9% in 2021)
- Single-season (369.6 in 2021) and career (290.1) passing yards per game
- Single-season (9 in 2021) and career (15) 300-yard games
- Single-season and career 400-yard passing games (5 in 2021)
