After an extraordinary rookie season in which he led the Houston Texans to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud has been voted by the fans as the Pepsi Rookie of the Year for the 2023 season.
It was announced ahead of Thursday night’s NFL Honors awards show at which the official NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards will be given out.
He is a finalist with Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta, Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua.
In 15 games started, Stroud finished the season with a 9-6 record while completing 319 of his 499 passes for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns while throwing just five interceptions. He began the season with an NFL-record 192 passing attempts to start a career without an interception. He was also named a Pro Bowler.
After being drafted No. 2 overall, Stroud turned the Texans around from a 3-13-1 team to an AFC South division-winning 10-7 team with a playoff win over the Cleveland Browns by a score of 45-14. He had 274 yards and three touchdowns in that game.
If Stroud wins NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, he will be the second straight Ohio State player to win it after former teammate Garrett Wilson took the award home with the New York Jets for the 2022 season.
