The 2021 Heisman Trophy ceremony is at 8 p.m. Saturday night and will broadcast live on ESPN.
Cash Cow Cleveland Cavaliers
December 3, 2021The opportunity is still there for the Browns
December 7, 2021For the fourth time in as many seasons, the Ohio State Buckeyes will be represented at the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York on Saturday night. C.J. Stroud was named one of four finalists for college football’s most prestigious individual award, joining Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, and Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett.
Stroud is the third straight Ohio State quarterback to be named a Heisman Trophy finalist during their first year as a starter in Columbus. Dwayne Haskins (2018) and Justin Fields (2019) did the same. Chase Young also joined Fields in New York in 2019, making it four Buckeyes in four years to make it to the ceremony, including the three quarterbacks.
Only a redshirt freshman, Stroud turned plenty of heads this season. He is 351.1 passing yards per game (fourth-best in the FBS), 9.78 passing yards per attempt (fifth), 70.9 completion percentage (sixth), 38 passing touchdowns (fifth), 3,862 passing yards (eighth), and 182.2 passer rating (second) in only 11 games ranks among the best in college football. His passer rather and completion percentage would be the best in program history as well.
Stroud is Ohio State’s eighth Heisman finalist since the Heisman Trust began inviting multiple finalists to the ceremony in 1982. Keith Byars (1984), Eddie George (1995), Orlando Pace (1996), Troy Smith (2006), Haskins, Fields, and Young are the others. Decent company for the gunslinger.
Given the fact that Young’s Crimson Tide are not only the No. 1-ranked team in the country heading into the College Football Playoff but also that he was a heavy favorite to win the Heisman prior to his dominant performance to beat previously unbeaten Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, and it seems as though Young will be the second straight Alabama player to be named the Heisman Trophy winner on Saturday night.
While it’s very unlikely that Stroud wins the award, being one of four finalists is such a big accomplishment. He was recently named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Quarterback of the Year, and Freshman of the Year, so this is just another accomplishment to add to his already loaded resume. He is also a finalist for the Davey O’Brien and Manning awards, which are both presented to college football’s best signal-caller, as well as a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award
Many Buckeye fans were calling for Ryan Day to sit Stroud early in the season. Fast forward a few months and the quarterback is now one of four Heisman Trophy finalists. Not a bad turnaround for the redshirt freshman.