C.J. Stroud Says Ohio State’s Football Team Would Beat Buckeyes’ Basketball Team

“I can play. We can play.”

Author:
Andrew Lind
Jul 28, 2022 4:28 PM EDT

In this story:

Ohio State redshirt sophomore quarterback C.J. Stroud revealed during Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday that he recently beat junior wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba nine straight times in a game of H-O-R-S-E.

The record-setting signal-caller then called himself the best shooter on the team, and took it one step further by claiming a group of football players could beat the Buckeyes’ basketball team in a game on the hardwood.

“I honestly think that if we played football versus our basketball team, I think it would be close,” Stroud said. “I think we would win.”

Of course, that didn’t sit too well with members of basketball team, including junior center Zed Key and junior guard Eugene Brown III, who seem to be down for a game of pickup hoops in the near future.

Let’s say that happens, though. Who would Stroud have for his starting five? He named Smith-Njigba, redshirt junior Cade Stover, fifth-year senior safety Josh Proctor and senior offensive tackle Dawand Jones, who he called the “most polished basketball player” on the football team.

“He’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever met in my life,” Stroud said of Jones. “He could play basketball, but his footwork and his ability to use his size not against him, but for him, it was amazing to see the laws of gravity, you know what I mean?”

The 6-foot-8 and 350-pound Jones averaged 17.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game during his senior year to lead Indianapolis Ben Davis to the state championship.

Proctor averaged a team-leading 17.0 points per game during his junior season at Owasso, Okla., while Stover left Lexington, Ohio, as the school’s all-time leader in points and rebounds.

Official stats could not be found for Stroud or Smith-Njigba, who played varsity basketball at Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and Rockwall, Texas, respectively.

“I can play,” Stroud said. “We can play.”

-----

Be sure to check out our new message boards, Buckeye Forums. We'd love to have you part of the conversation during the season.

-----

You may also like:

Ohio State WR Kamryn Babb On Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

Countdown To Kickoff 2022: Ohio State Upsets Michigan, 37-21

Ohio State, USC Transfer Kicker Parker Lewis Awaiting Eligibility Ruling

Former Ohio State LB Randy Gradishar A Finalist For Pro Football Hall Of Fame

2023 Ohio State S Target Caleb Downs Commits To Alabama

Ryan Day Talks Notre Dame Game, Loss To Michigan, Defensive Expectations

Ohio State Announces Date For Start Of Fall Camp