You may have noticed that the Ohio State football team was a young one this year. One in which a lot of its production came from freshmen. Though it may have been a year that fell short of expectations, with so much young talent, the future looks awfully bright in Columbus.
To that end, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced its 2022 Freshmen All-American team on Monday, and OSU was the only team that had three players named to the squad. But it wasn’t the first time three Buckeyes were named to the squad that has been in place since 2001. In 2016, freshmen Mike Weber (running back), Michael Jordan (offensive line), and Dre’Mont Jones (defensive line), were all named.
All told, there were two from offense and one player from the defensive side that got the nod from FWAA voters this season. Here are the three players that received the recognition for being the best freshmen at their positions.
Quarterback – C.J. Stroud
Ohio State breaks five Rose Bowl records in win over Utah
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws a pass during the fourth quarter of the Rose Bowl against the Utah Utes in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2022. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Statement bio from Ohio State
“Stroud, a redshirt freshman who entered the 2021 season having never attempted a collegiate pass, quickly grew into his role as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback and set himself on a path to end up as a Heisman Trophy finalist.
“He saved his best performance for last: in the Rose Bowl against Utah, Stroud help rally Ohio State from a 14-point halftime deficit with a 573-yard passing performance that included a school-record tying six touchdowns. He finished the season with 4,435 yards passing, a single-season record completion percentage of 71.9 and 44 touchdowns against just six interceptions….
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