WATCH: Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud Dominates Buckeyes Pro Day

Former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud ranks second in program history with 8,123 passing yards and 85 touchdowns.

Author:
Casey Smith
Mar 31, 2023 2:15 PM EDT

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Ohio State Buckeyes

On the drive over to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center March 22, C.J. Stroud wasn't listening to hardcore, fast-paced music to get amped up for the day.

Instead, he was listening to gospel artist Fred Hammond's "We're Blessed," a music genre Stroud said he always starts his day with.

Ohio State football gave a glimpse into the former Buckeyes quarterback's full pro day experience, providing a deeper look past just the workouts available to the public, as Stroud prepares to embark on an NFL career.

He FaceTimed another former Buckeyes signal-caller in Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields before arriving to his "old stomping grounds" where he was greeted by NFL coaches and personnel, including Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.

After signing authentic Stroud Ohio State jerseys and footballs, he got dressed in the Buckeyes' 2023 Pro Day gear prior to his official measurements. Stroud stood 6'3 with a 6'6 wingspan, weighed in at 213 pounds, has 10 1/8-inch hands and a 32 3/4-inch arm length.

"What's good y'all. Your boy C.J. Stroud here, 2023 Pro Day," Stroud said in a video. "I'm about to have some fun with my boys, man. Support them and have a good time, man. Go Bucks."

He cheered on teammates Zach Harrison and Paris Johnson Jr., among others, as they went through their workouts, but when it was his time, he shined.

Stroud threw a combination of routes to former teammates Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Mitch Rossi — who also look to be selected in April's draft — as well as Marvin Harrison Jr., Jayden Ballard, Xavier Johnson and Cade Stover.

Head coach Ryan Day said afterward that Stroud had "as good of a workout" as he's seen.

"The ball came out of his hand. He was accurate down the field. I thought the ball had pace on it," Day said March 22. "If you can handle being the quarterback at Ohio State, you can handle being it in the NFL. I think he's passed all of those tests and he'll continue to do that."

Stroud's mother Kimberly Stroud and sister Ciara Stroud were both in attendance for the Inland Empire, CA. native's workout.

Ciara Stroud said C.J. Stroud was "born for this" and that his successful workout wasn't surprising.

Kimberly Stroud said she had to "fight back the tears and the nerves of it all," but that his pro day was an "exciting day."

"C.J.'s worked so hard and just to see it all go full circle and evolve, you know, just such a great performance by him," Kimberly Stroud said. "He's really showing just how solid he is not just as a player, but decision-making, footwork. He looks so amazing."

Stroud is currently a projected first-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and is the odds-on favorite to be selected No. 1 to the Carolina Panthers, according to SI Sportsbook.