C.J. Stroud never envisioned he would play for Ohio State as a kid growing up.
In his younger years, Stroud dreamed of playing college basketball. Even once he decided to pursue a career in football – a decision he made after his eighth-grade football coach told him he had the potential to play in the NFL – the Rancho Cucamonga, California, native thought he’d be playing somewhere on the West Coast like USC, UCLA or another Pac-12 school.
Ultimately, the recruiting process led Stroud to Ohio State, where he’s now the third Buckeye quarterback in the last four years to be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.