C.J. Stroud Biography

C.J. Stroud, born October 3, 2001, is an American professional football quarterback who has played for the Houston Texans in the National Football League. He competed in college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, setting multiple school passing records, including a single-game high of 573 passing yards. Stroud was recognized as a Heisman Trophy finalist in both 2021 and 2022, and was chosen by the Houston Texans with the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. He was selected to participate in the 2020 All-American Bowl as a top high school football prospect. He assumed the starting quarterback role as a redshirt freshman after the departure of Justin Fields to the NFL draft. On October 8, 2022, he achieved six passing touchdowns in a game against Michigan State, becoming the first player in conference history to record three such games in a career. He announced his decision to leave college and enter the 2023 NFL draft on January 16, 2023, forgoing his final two years of eligibility.