One Ohio State quarterback in line for real playing time The Buckeyes will see an overhaul at a couple of different positions before fans see them on the field again. At quarterback, both C.J. Stroud and Jack Miller arrive as heralded prospects. And both come to Ohio from pretty significant distances. Miller committed to Ohio State in June of 2018 and remained steadfast in his pledge all the way through signing day amid endless speculation about Stroud and his potential addition. When Stroud signed with Ohio State during the December early signing period, it officially launched what should be an epic battle with Gunnar Hoak to be Justin Field’s backup in 2020. Whichever freshman quarterback emerges for the Buckeyes becomes the prohibitive favorite to start for the program in 2021 and beyond. Buckle up. Miller and Stroud are each fierce competitors and full of talent. The Ohio State spring game in April will provide a great chance for Miller and Stroud to show they belong in the conversation.
The Ohio State quarterbacks Jack Miller and C.J. Stroud played it off during the recruiting process. They both are all in on the idea of competing right away when they get on campus. That time is now, and the first auditions for gaining the upper hand in future quarterback battles is coming quickly. Stroud and Miller both have a chance to compete with Gunnar Hoak for the backup quarterback job behind Justin Fields, a spot that seems to play a big role for the Buckeyes every year. Miller has dreamed of playing for the Buckeyes since his freshman year and has been committed since July 2018. Stroud committed on signing day after a late arrival to the national recruiting scene. Now both will begin a years-long quarterback competition in the coming weeks.
STROUD VS. MILLER Throughout this week and next, The Hurry Up will be touching a bit on the Buckeyes’ 2020 class and focusing on each position group. Today, the quarterbacks. You probably didn’t know this because we don’t talk about it much, but Ohio State signed two quarterbacks in its 2020 class. Though Gunnar Hoak is entering his second season on the roster, the battle for the Buckeyes’ backup job – and, in turn, the player who gets a head start to claiming the 2021 starting job – could come down to CJ Stroud and Jack Miller (with junior commit Kyle McCord being another candidate for the top spot in 2021). Eleven Warriors met with Miller at his family’s hotel resort, The Fairmont Princess, in Scottsdale, Arizona, ahead of the College Football Playoff, and then met with Stroud this week at an All-American Bowl practice. Each is an impressive guy who carries himself well, and their future teammates had strong praise for each one. The fight for a backup spot is almost never this intriguing, but it will be as entertaining a position battle as the Buckeyes will have heading into the 2020 campaign. “Both kind of different stories, but I think both are really excited to come in here and go fight for playing time,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said. “I think to say that they're going to go compete with Justin to be the starter next year is a little bit unfair, but to fight for that backup spot next year is real. They'll both be coming in here, and you never know how that works. Before you know it, you're in it. In order to go win championships, you have to have depth at that position.” Miller and Stroud each shared their thoughts on the impending quarterback competition with Eleven Warriors. Miller: “I feel like you have to have the mindset that I’m better than you and I’m gonna do my job to the best of my ability and you’re not gonna stop me. Really, just the ability to take in information all at once (is critical) and being able to see everywhere on the field and really you just have to have the ability to thrive under pressure.” Stroud: “I don’t go into the competition – I don’t even look at it as a competition. I’m just gonna go in there and work; put my head down and just work, and when I look up I wanna be on top. But I’m just gonna let God handle it. I’m not worried about anything.” It will be interesting to see how Day approaches their playing time situation as far as future eligibility is concerned. A super-way-too-early projection of the Buckeyes’ 2020 schedule suggests at least four blowouts. There will be more than four, but that’s being on the conservative side. Assuming Fields is fully healthy next season, will he put a cap on the backup competition’s winner at three games to preserve a potential redshirt? Or will Day try to get the backup as much game experience as possible to bridge the gap to the 2021 season and make his quarterback of the future a bit more comfortable with the speed and spotlight of the game? Would he rotate backups in order to get both the No. 2 and No. 3 as many snaps as possible?
TWO POTENTIAL FUTURE STARTING QUARTERBACKS The battle to become Ohio State’s next starting quarterback after Justin Fields will begin this spring, as the Buckeyes signed two quarterbacks in the class of 2020 – CJ Stroud and Jack Miller – who are both on campus as early enrollees. It’s rare for Ohio State to sign two quarterbacks in one recruiting class – the last time the Buckeyes did that was in 2015, with Joe Burrow and Torrance Gibson, and Gibson switched to wide receiver shortly after arriving in Columbus – but it was a necessity this year. The Buckeyes have only two returning scholarship quarterbacks from last season in Justin Fields and Gunnar Hoak, and both of them will be gone next season if Fields enters the 2021 NFL draft. That makes this year crucial for Ryan Day to develop Miller and Stroud into quarterbacks who will be ready to potentially start in 2021, so it’s a huge benefit that both of them are already on campus and able to participate in this year’s spring practices. And because they are beginning their Ohio State careers simultaneously, Day and new quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis will be able to evaluate their development side-by-side throughout the next year, which should give them a stronger grasp on how their 2021 quarterback competition (which could also feature four-star 2021 commit Kyle McCord) could play out. Presumably, the Buckeyes will also aim for both Stroud and Miller to be ready to take some snaps this fall – even if only on the back end of a few lopsided games – to get them some real in-game experience before either of them becomes the starter. Hoak will likely enter spring as the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart, but Ohio State will have incentive to play Stroud and Miller because of their potential as future starters – while they could also offer more upside even this season if anything happens to Fields.
The battle starts now for C.J. Stroud and Jack Miller as the two quarterbacks embark on their careers at Ohio State. Neither one is afraid of the challenge, which is going to make both them and the Buckeyes better in the long run.https://t.co/nuut4B77Xh pic.twitter.com/VUdDVPEYt7— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) January 8, 2020
QUARTERBACKS (4) Returning Players: Justin Fields (917 career snaps at Ohio State), Gunnar Hoak (48) Newcomers: Jack Miller, CJ Stroud Ohio State has a returning starting quarterback for the first time in three years, and for that matter, one of the best quarterbacks in all of college football. While there was uncertainty surrounding Fields as he entered last season as a first-time starter, he’ll enter 2020 as the face of the Buckeyes and one of two frontrunners – along with Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence – for the Heisman Trophy. The Buckeyes don’t have much experience behind him, as Hoak appeared in only five games last season as Ohio State’s third-string quarterback, but Stroud and Miller – both four-star recruits – are major additions that will significantly increase the talent behind Fields in the quarterback room and set them up for their future after Fields, which will likely begin in 2021. Ohio State is now back to four scholarship quarterbacks, which Ryan Day considers to be the optimal number. Hoak should also be more ready to play as needed now that he will have the opportunity to go through a full offseason with the Buckeyes after arriving as a graduate transfer last summer.
Ohio State has a leader at quarterback returning in Justin Fields. But there will be plenty of eyes on C.J. Stroud and Jack Miller with the Buckeyes this spring starting to figure out if they can handle the role when it's time. @TIM_MAYsports with more: https://t.co/goGMLzVZL5— Austin Ward (@AWardSports) January 19, 2020
Ohio State Finally Has A Full Quarterback Room After Surviving Treacherous Situation Last Season https://t.co/iM3aOjp2gk via @11W— OSUBasketballJunkie (@ScarletBuckeye2) January 27, 2020
Buckeyes Didn't Sign Jack Miller, CJ Stroud To Have One Transfer https://t.co/aoOiHhAtBZ via @TonyGerdeman— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) January 29, 2020
With two coveted freshman passers in C.J. Stroud and Jack Miller entering the program as early enrollees, the door has opened for the battle of the backup position –– and the driving seat for the future face of the Buckeyes. https://t.co/dm3wQAjuYO— The Lantern (@TheLantern) February 6, 2020
On Ohio State QBs C.J. Stroud and Jack Miller and the competition they already won https://t.co/T9ZrK8Mv1q— Doug Lesmerises (@DougLesmerises) February 16, 2020
Justin Fields returns to lead Ohio State's quarterbacks this spring while Jack Miller and C.J. Stroud begin their Buckeye careers competing with Gunnar Hoak for the backup job. https://t.co/AlfbLjqulQ— Eleven Warriors (@11W) February 18, 2020
Ohio State football: Justin Fields enters spring as top quarterback, but who is No. 2? https://t.co/Ln3LRPYupI— BuckeyeXtra.com (@BuckeyeXtra) February 25, 2020
Spearheaded by Heisman Trophy candidate Justin Fields, Ohio State has a loaded quarterbacks room that also contains CJ Stroud and Jack Miller, a pair of potential future starters. https://t.co/4Qqq1LdOO6— Eleven Warriors (@11W) May 10, 2020
Buckeyes get creative to keep development rolling for young QBs https://t.co/QLE2njArZM— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) March 26, 2020
QUARTERBACK Ryan Day will have to wait another year before he has to spend a full season as head coach without Justin Fields. The Georgian returns as Day's first-ever second-year starting quarterback, and he's expected to make even further strides after putting together a Heisman Trophy finalist-worthy campaign. Chris Chugunov is gone, but Gunnar Hoak is back to fight for backup reps. He's joined by incoming freshmen CJ Stroud and Jack Miller, who will spend the next year jockeying for position in a competition to start at quarterback in 2021 that began the moment they stepped on campus. The starter remains the same, and the depth behind him has improved. Without a doubt, Ohio State should be better at quarterback in 2020. Verdict: Better Confidence Level: High Ohio State might take a step back on the defensive line and the secondary in 2020 due to key offseason losses, but its quarterback and linebacker situations should improve. https://t.co/hvIahiaQUL— Eleven Warriors (@11W) March 26, 2020
How Buckeyes can find, mold serviceable backup quarterback https://t.co/7ohhhk1yRm— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) April 23, 2020
Spearheaded by Heisman Trophy candidate Justin Fields, Ohio State has a loaded quarterbacks room that also contains CJ Stroud and Jack Miller, a pair of potential future starters. https://t.co/4Qqq1LdOO6— Eleven Warriors (@11W) May 10, 2020