It’s no secret that the Indianapolis Colts are looking for a new franchise quarterback, and the expectation is that the team will use the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft to complete that search.
With many different opinions on this year’s prospects, we still have no inclination of who will be available when Indy is on the clock on the final Thursday in April.
We’ll be tracking the Colts’ reported interest in the 2023 draft class so be sure to keep up with latest updates via our tracker.
Let’s get to know Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and what he can bring to the Circle City:
Background
Coleridge Bernard Stroud IV was born in Rancho Cucamonga, California on October 3, 2001. His mother’s name is Kimberly. His father Coleridge Bernard Stroud III is currently serving a prison sentence for charges of carjacking, kidnapping, robbery, and misdemeanor sexual battery stemming from a drug-related incident that ended with his evading police by jumping into the San Diego Bay.
This incident led to tough times for Stroud and his family. It was greatly covered in detail by SI’s Ross Dellenger.
High School
Stroud played his entire high school career at Rancho Cucamonga High School in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. He spent his freshman and sophomore years as a backup on the varsity squad until he was the starter in his junior season. In his two years as the starter, Stroud threw for 6,221 yards and 66 touchdowns. He also ran the ball for a total of 264 yards and five touchdowns in those two seasons.
In 2019, he attended Elite 11, a premier quarterback event in the nation, bringing together the nation’s top signal callers each offseason to compete and improve their skillset both on and off the field. Stroud was named the MVP of the event. He followed that up by blowing up in his senior year throwing for 3,878 yards and 47 touchdowns. He was named the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin’s Offensive Player of the Year.
It should be noted that Stroud was a two-sport athlete playing basketball as well and was known for his talent on the court. He was selected to play in the All-American Bowl as well. After starting off as a three-star recruit, he ended his high school career as a four-star recruit and as the third-highest quarterback prospect and the number 42 overall recruit of the 2020 class. As we all know, Stroud would end up committing to playing for Ryan Day and Ohio State.
College
Stroud spent his freshman year redshirting as a backup to Justin Fields. He played only one snap but it resulted in a 48-yard rushing touchdown. He won the starting job the following season in a competition that included the heavily recruited Quinn Ewers.
He appeared in 12 games that season, throwing for 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Stroud was named a Heisman Finalist. Ohio State played in the Rose Bowl at the end of the season in which Stroud broke the Rose Bowl and the school record with 573 passing yards. He tied Ohio St.’s record and broke the Rose Bowl record with six passing touchdowns.
CJ Stroud put on a clinic in the 2022 Rose Bowl.
His accuracy truly is effortless. pic.twitter.com/bJjk5mc6YU
— Noah Compton (@nerlens_) March 9, 2023
Stroud appeared in 13 games his junior season throwing for 3,688 yards, 41 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He also ran the ball for 108 yards. He set the Big 10 record for most six passing touchdowns games (3) in a player’s career. Stroud was a Heisman Finalist for his final college season.
Some other records by Stroud:
- Big Ten single-season passing yards in Big Ten games (3,193)
- Big Ten single-season passing touchdowns in Big Ten games (34)
- Big Ten career passing efficiency (182.39)
- Ohio State single-season completion percentage (71.9)
- Ohio State single-season passing yards per game (290.1)
- Ohio State single-season 300-yard passing games (9)
- Ohio State career 300-yard passing games (15)
- Ohio State single-season 400-yard passing games (5)
- Ohio State career 400-yard passing games (5)
- Ohio State single-season passing efficiency (186.6)
- Ohio State career passing efficiency (182.39)
- Ohio State single-game total offense (583)
- Ohio State single-season total yards per season (367.9)
- Ohio State career total yards per season (294.9)
- Rose-Bowl total yards (583)
- Rose-Bowl points responsible for (36)
- Awards and honors that Stroud earned:
- Big Ten’s Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year (2022)
- Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year (2022)
- First-team All-Big Ten (2022)
- Second-team All-American by WC, CBS Sports and AFCA (2022)
- Big Ten’s Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year (2021)
- Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year (2021)
- Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year (2021)
- First-team All-Big Ten (2021)
- Third-team All-American by AP (2021)
Injury History
Stressed rotator cuff and separated AC joint (2021) – One game missed
NFL Combine
Measurements
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 214
Arm Length: 32 5/8″
Hand Size: 10″
Stroud opted out of testing at the combine but decided to throw which was a good decision because he ended up putting on a great performance. NFL Network’s lead draft analyst, Daniel Jeremiah was impressed by his day.
CJ Stroud is having one of the best throwing sessions I’ve seen at the Combine.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) March 4, 2023
Here is a look at his combine performance:
Pro Day
Stroud didn’t bank just on his combine performance, he continued to impress at his Pro Day:
Random Nuggets
Used his NIL money to gift $500 to each of his teammates so they can look good for the season opener.
According to Cleveland.com, “Coleridge Bernard Stroud IV gets his name from a Greek philosopher from the 1800s. The name was originally given to his great-grandfather and has been passed down to him. But nobody calls him that.”
His mother, Kim Stroud, and his family and friends call him “Cool Breeze.” His mother explained to Cleveland.com, “He’s a calm, cool breeze because you can never tell an emotion on him. Sometimes he’ll make little gestures or whatever, but he’s real cool-headed.”
Stroud thought he was the best shooter on his team and thought the football team could beat the school’s basketball team.
C.J. Stroud says he recently beat Jaxon Smith-Njigba in H-O-R-S-E nine straight times. He says he's the best shooter on the team, though Dawand Jones is the most complete basketball player … and he thinks a group of football players could beat the Ohio State basketball team. pic.twitter.com/v0kc4a8f93
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) July 27, 2022
Scouting Report
Timing, ball placement, and touch are what make Stroud great at playing quarterback. He plays very well within the structure of the offense. He understands who should be open and when and where he needs to put the ball so his receiver is able to pick up yards after the catch. He can squeeze the ball in a tight window in coverage. Whether it is by throwing a dart or giving the ball enough air to go over the defender’s hands.
He does an outstanding job at utilizing the boundary for his receiver so he can drop the ball in a bucket for the reception. He would fit great into an offense that is all about the timing between the quarterback and the receivers, as well as that leans into the play-action part of the game.
His accuracy is why his timing and ball placement work so well within an offense that suits his skill set. Stroud isn’t afraid of taking a shot for his man but he will have an occasional errant throw and could’ve had more interceptions than he did in his career if the defenders came down with the ball.
As far as his athleticism, he’s not a statue at all but he didn’t lean into it because his team didn’t need him to take over games for him. There are times on the tape when he would try to create plays for the offense that would result in bad throws or turnovers. Then when you turn on the College Football National Championship game against Georgia, he shined in that department and showed he’s capable of putting a team on his back.
In Year 1, he’s capable of coming in and being the opening-day starter. If he has a solid offensive line in front of him and some quality receivers in the offense then the offense should be able to put up points if he can develop quick chemistry with his teammates. By Year 3, if he continues his development then he should be earning Pro Bowl honors and has potential All-Pro years later in his career.
Projection: Top five pick
Shane Steichen’s valued QB traits
Steichen mentioned earlier this offseason about the traits he looks for in young quarterbacks. “I think accuracy, decision-making, and the ability to create are the three things that I look at in a quarterback,” Steichen said. “I think those all three things are very important but obviously, above the neck, the players that I’ve been around – Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert, and Philip Rivers, they all have one thing in common. They’re obsessed with their craft. If you can find that in a quarterback, you’ll probably have some success.”
Accuracy: This is an easy check mark for Stroud. He’s going to put the ball where it needs to go and has a variety of ways he can deliver the ball to his receiver.
The accuracy and ball placement by CJ Stroud on this throw 🔥pic.twitter.com/zJywSEci9E
— Full-Time Dame 💰 (@DP_NFL) December 7, 2022
Decision Making: He plays the quarterback position with some smart decision-making. Stroud will go through his progressions and while he’s not a game-manager type of quarterback, he doesn’t look to put his defense in a bad position.
Outside the UGA playoff game, C.J. Stroud’s best ‘22 regular season game was vs. Michigan.
He was accurate, threw with great trajectory, was a sound decision-maker, and showed great eyes all game long. pic.twitter.com/AR4kO8IKCW
— Jared Feinberg (@JRodNFLDraft) March 7, 2023
Ability to Create: As I mentioned in my scouting report, the regular season tape doesn’t offer a lot in terms of his ability to create but the way Stroud got the job done against the best defense in college football was outstanding. There’s a saying in scouting that if he can do it once, then he can do it again.
Just re-watched tape of CJ Stroud vs. Georgia in CFP semi. It was a loss but OSU dropped 41 on a UGA D that allowed just 14.3 ppg. Stroud played his best game in his biggest moment. His mobility and creativity here is what NFL team’s have been starving to see. pic.twitter.com/MFOwozwbHp
— Todd McShay (@McShay13) March 20, 2023
Because of Stroud’s answer to his ability to create, he checks the boxes of the traits that Steichen is looking for in a young quarterback.
