(Photo AP / Jay LaPrete)
It’s not often that a freshman quarterback takes the wheel and leads a college football team through a championship race. The few that come to mind are Jameis Winston, Johnny Manziel and JT, Barrett. Manziel and Winston won the Heisman in those seasons and Barrett came within a broken ankle of leading his Ohio St. Buckeyes to a national championship (Cardale Jones completed and completed the task). Fast forward to today and we have CJ Stroud as the latest freshman quarterback knocking on Heisman’s door.
Stroud has replaced the late Justin Fields and has quickly become a household name. His only blemish as a starting quarterback came in Game 3 of the season when his Buckeyes fell 31-24 to the Oregon Ducks, though he still threw for 484 yards and three touchdowns.
At 7-1, Ohio St. is in the playoff photo, giving Stroud +380 Heisman odds. For those to improve, he will have to perform better than he did during last week’s 305-yard and TD outing against Penn State. The Buckeyes will head to Lincoln for a showdown with the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday.
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