Ohio State's Ryan Day on Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud: 'Deserves All The Success'
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is on the trajectory of a legendary career. And Sunday afternoon, Stroud showcased the all-world potential in the Texans' 39-37 comeback victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He set a rookie record for most passing yards in a game, finishing with 470 yards while completing 30-of-42 attempts. He also threw five touchdowns without tossing an interception.
With 46 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Stroud led the Texans on a 75-yard drive that ended with a game-winning touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Tank Dell.
Several people have played a role in helping Stroud lay the foundation for his substantial start. But no one may not have played a more prominent role than Ohio State coach Ryan Day.
"He deserves all the success that he's receiving," Day said. "This is somebody who went through a tough time in the draft process. A lot of people questioned him in certain ways. You never saw him react in any way. He's handled himself like a pro.
Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud during his record-setting performance vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Stroud spent his entire college career under Day at Ohio State. He helped the 22-year-old quarterback become one of the top prospects ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, where he finished his college career throwing for 8,123 yards while completing 69.3 percent of his passes for 85 touchdowns and a dozen interceptions.
Ohio State was the place where he honed his talents, not just on the football field. But Day also saw the early characteristics of Stroud's leadership, which made him become one of six captains for the Texans this season.
"(The Texans) voted him captain. He's a captain there," Day said. "For a rookie, out the gate, that's tremendous. He walked in and endeared himself to that organization. Now, you're starting to see him perform on the field. He's given that organization hope. It's the same thing Garrett Wilson did with the New York Jets last year."
Each performance Stroud has given eight games into his career is a testament to the lessons learned at Ohio State.
Due to Stroud's play, the Texans are entering their Week 10 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals with a 4-4 record. So far this season, Stroud has completed 62.0 percent of his passes for 2,270 yards and 14 touchdowns.
"Our guys understand what the expectation is," Day said. "You're there to win every game. It was great to see him quickly jump into that role and have the success he's had. Still a lot of football ahead of him, though."
