Stroud not sticking around Columbus

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COVER PHOTO: Quarterback C.J. Stroud throws his hands in the air in exasperation after stepping out of bounds on an eight-yard run during the third quarter against Indiana on Nov. 12 in Ohio Stadium. Picture by Sam Fahmi/Columbus Wired.

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Coleridge Bernard “C.J.” Stroud IV finally put to rest all of the “will he, won’t he” talk. Ohio State’s third-year quarterback won’t be returning for a fourth season and will declare for this year’s NFL draft.

He made the announcement via his Twitter account a little after 11 a.m.

Today was the last day that eligible college football players had to put in official writing to the NFL whether or not they intended to stay in school or give the pro ranks a go.

Technically, the league allows players a three-day window to change their mind, so come Thursday, Buckeye Nation could hear that Stroud has rescinded his decision and wants to come back for at least one more year in a Buckeye uniform.

That’s about as likely as this reporter making the team. As a waterboy.

Stroud leaves as one of the Scarlet and Gray’s most prolific passers, owning a few records in his two years as a starter, including single-season completion percentage (72 percent, 2021) and passing yards per game in a single season (396.6 in 2021). He is also the only OSU QB to ever throw for more than 500 yards in a game (573, Rose Bowl vs. Utah) and is tied with four others for the most single-game touchdown passes (6). However, he is the only Buckeye to do it in three different games (Michigan State and Utah in 2021, Michigan State in 2022).

He ranks second at OSU in career passing yards (8,123), passing TD’s (85), the most games with 300-plus passing yards (15) and stands now as the school’s most efficient quarterback with a career 182.1 rating.