Stroud To Throw At Ohio State Pro Day

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud will throw passes to wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, tight end Jeremy Ruckert and other draft-eligible participants during the program’s annual pro day on Wednesday.

While still a year (or two) away from entering the NFL Draft, Stroud will assist his former teammates as they work out in front of coaches, scouts and front office personnel from several professional organizations.

“The biggest thing is to be there to support his teammates and try to put on a good show,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said.

Day said Stroud will have a scripted throwing session with Olave and Wilson. Both receivers are top prospects in this year’s draft and will look to become the Buckeyes’ first opening-round selection since the Miami Dolphins selected Ted Ginn Jr. with the No. 9-overall selection in 2007.

“They’ve gone through a routine and rehearsed that,” Day said. “We can do the best job of putting our best foot forward for everybody involved and participating.”

Stroud’s participation will not be the first time an underclassman went through an Ohio State pro day before they were draft eligible. In the spring of 2021, Wilson caught passes from former quarterback Justin Fields, who was later selected by the Chicago Bears with the No. 11-overall pick.

Day expects Stroud will benefit from the experience, which will ultimately prepare him for whenever he chooses to declare himself a professional.

“It’s a good opportunity for C.J. to go through it and just see what that’s like and feel it,” Day said, “so when he’s there next time, he’ll be even a little bit more comfortable.”

Former Buckeye Cardale Jones will also throw passes at the event. He was last in the NFL in 2019 as a member of the Seattle Seahawks practice squad before he was released. Jones later joined the Washington D.C. Defenders of the XFL, but the league shut down operations at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.