#7

C.J. Stroud

QB · Ohio State · Jr. · #7

Houston — drafted 2023, Rd 1, Pick 2, #2 overall
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

C.J. Stroud

QB · Ohio State · Jr · #7

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★★
#42 national
CFB
College
Ohio State
2021–2022
NFL
NFL Draft
R1 · #2
Houston · 2023

Featured in The Canon

Where He Ended Up · NFL

HoustonEntering 4th NFL season

#2Rd 1 · Pick 2
HoustonEntering 4th NFL season

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2021Ohio State11-2HC: Ryan Day · Balanced, fast tempo
2022Ohio State11-2HC: Ryan Day · Balanced

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2022Ohio State25838966.3%3,6889.5416177.7----
2021Ohio State31744171.9%4,43510.1446186.6----
Career57583069.3%8,1239.88512182.4----
SeasonTeam
2022Ohio State471082.30--
2021Ohio State32-20-0.60--
Career79881.10--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 9 · 2022

W 44–31

at Penn State

354 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT  ·  QBR 93.6  ·  5 rush yds (6 car)

Edged out Penn State on the road in a shootout.

How he plays

Play style

Picks you apart underneath and protects the ball.

CFB Index positional classification

DNA match

Player DNA

Pocket Surgeon

High-percentage passer who protects the ball. Loses the matchup on improvisation.

QB

His 2022 production profile sits closest to C.J. Stroud’s 2021 season.

C.J. Stroud

59%match

Ohio State · 2021

NFL Rd 1 · Pk 2
#2

Kenny Pickett

Pittsburgh · 2021

Unitas Golden Arm1st-team All-AmericanNFL Rd 1 · Pk 20
53%
#3

Hendon Hooker

Tennessee · 2022

All-SECNFL Rd 3 · Pk 5
52%
#4

Zach Wilson

BYU · 2020

NFL Rd 1 · Pk 2
46%
#5

Grayson McCall

Coastal Carolina · 2022

All-Sun Belt
46%

Matches C.J. on

TD rate

Differs from C.J. on

Total pass EPA (college ability) (lower)
Rush yards / carry (higher)
Completion % (lower)

Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Kyle Trask’s path through Florida.

Kyle Trask

89%match

Florida · 2020

1st-team All-AmericanNFL Rd 2 · Pk 32
#2

Jalen Milroe

Alabama · 2024

CampbellAll-SECNFL Rd 3 · Pk 28
81%
#3

CJ Carr

Notre Dame · 2025

81%
#4

Hendon Hooker

Tennessee · 2022

All-SECNFL Rd 3 · Pk 5
79%
#5

Trinidad Chambliss

Ole Miss · 2025

77%

Matches Kyle on

Yards per attempt
Completion %
20212022

As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Caleb Williams's junior season at USC (2023).

USC · 2023

#2

Hendon Hooker

Tennessee · 2022

All-SECNFL Rd 3 · Pk 5
53%
#3

Kyle McCord

Ohio State · 2023

All-ACCNFL Rd 6
52%
#4

Jaxson Dart

Ole Miss · 2023

NFL Rd 1 · Pk 25
51%
#5

J.J. McCarthy

Michigan · 2023

NFL Rd 1 · Pk 10
50%

Matches Caleb on

Total pass EPA (college ability)
Rush yards / carry

Differs from Caleb on

TD rate (higher)
Height (higher)
Rush usage (lower)

Player DNA

Players who play like C.J. Stroud

#1

Jalen Milroe

Alabama · 2023

81%
#2

CJ Carr

Notre Dame · 2025

81%
#3

Hendon Hooker

Tennessee · 2021

79%
#4

Trinidad Chambliss

Ole Miss · 2025

77%
#5

Julian Sayin

Ohio State · 2025

54%

Heisman trajectory

Final Heisman Position · 2022

#9

Heisman top-10 (#9) · finalist probability 27%.

Development

Development Trajectory · passing yards

2021–2022
4,4352021
3,6882022

-17%

Down 17% — context-dependent (injury / role change?).