Ohio State QB battle: CJ Stroud named starter for Week 1 game vs. Minnesota

Ohio State named CJ Stroud its beginning quarterback for the Week 1 recreation towards Minnesota. Coach Ryan Day made the announcement Saturday, two weeks earlier than the Buckeyes tackle the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis on Sept. 4. Stroud, a redshirt freshman, has lengthy been thought-about the frontrunner to succeed Justin Fields, though Day has largely performed coy in speaking about some of the intriguing quarterback battles of the offseason. 

A former five-star recruit in 2020 per 247Sports, Stroud redshirted in 2020 and entered the 2021 offseason in a heated three-way battle alongside Kyle McCord — one other five-star within the 2021 class — and fellow redshirt freshman Jack Miller. The 6-foot-3, 218-pound signal-caller exited spring because the doubtless QB1 after a two-touchdown efficiency within the spring recreation, however the battle continued into preseason camp. 

This previous week, nonetheless, Day confirmed what many suspected — that Stroud was separating himself from McCord, Miller and new enrollee Quinn Ewers. The No. 1 recruit within the 2021 class, Ewers was set to affix Ohio State in 2022, however re-classified and joined the Buckeyes on account of new title, picture and likeness (NIL) guidelines. Nevertheless, he arrived too late into preseason camp to noticeably problem for the beginning job. 

“I assume it is actually a physique of labor over 27 practices, while you depend the spring,” Day stated of Stroud to the the Big Ten Network earlier this week. “We attempt to take it in the future at a time and have a look at the physique of labor. It isn’t one factor. Day in and time out, he is making actually good selections. Management. Clearly, taking good care of the soccer. The power to win within the pink zone and win on third down has been essential.”

Stroud joined the Buckeyes in 2020, however his offseason was lower brief by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although he didn’t try a go final season, Stroud got here off the bench in three video games and scored on a 48-yard run throughout a 52-12 win over Michigan State in December. 

Although Stroud has been named the starter, Ohio State’s quarterback battle has been a uncommon competitors amongst a number of former blue-chip recruits. The stress to maintain his job, particularly with Ewers becoming a member of the fold before anticipated, will probably be palpable all through the 2021 season because the Buckeyes eye one other College Football Playoff and nationwide championship run.