CJ Stroud may be the most exciting young quarterback in the NFL, and he should be ready to lead his team to the promised land in 2024. And while that may sound like a lot of hype? It’s hard to bet against the 22-year-old superstar. The prolific passer is coming off one of the best rookie seasons in history, and now, he has his team poised for the postseason.
The Texans selected Stroud with the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, hoping he would be the franchise QB that could lead them to playoffs – and possibly beyond. So far? They haven’t been disappointed. He racked up 4,108 yards, with 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions, to post a QB rating of 100.8. Along the way, he led the Texans to a 10-7 mark, an AFC South Division championship, and the franchise’s first playoff victory since 2019.
He’s also been the clearcut team leader on day one and a model citizen in the community. His religious beliefs are well-known, and he’s been involved with several local charities. But it’s what he will do on the field that Texans fans are watching and anticipating.
Houston has loaded up on talent in 2024 with some intriguing offseason acquisitions. Some pundits even call them the favorite to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LIX. But they will only go as far as CJ Stroud will take them. With more weapons around him, he could be even better in year two.
CJ Stroud is a Mix of Both Football and Faith
Texans rookie QB CJ Stroud (@CJ7STROUD) at the podium-
"God put something special in my I can't really explain.. A lot of what I've been through.. God prepared me for moments of not only distress but for He prepared me for success.. I know everything happens for a reason & that… pic.twitter.com/psRW52LHiY
— Tyler Milner (@tmilrealdeal) September 20, 2023
Aside from his dazzling statistics, another side of CJ Stroud that shined in 2023 was his unrelenting faith. While many athletes acknowledge their religion, the young QB professes his at every opportunity.
“It’s a lot of prayer,” he told reporters in a 2023 postgame press conference. “It’s a lot of just knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on me that I can’t handle. I don’t deserve His grace and his mercy, but He still gives it to me, and I love him for that. It’s not about me. It’s about Him and His glory. So, I think that’s where it comes from. I think God gave me like that.”
It also appears that he lives by those same articles of faith off the field as well. He launched the CJ Stroud Foundation, with its motto being “Servicing communities with the love of Christ through charity work.”
Since his arrival last year, Stroud and his mother, Kimberly, have been involved with worthy causes in the Houston area. The signal-caller has done everything from leading food drives to holding several youth football camps.
“God put something special in me I can’t really explain,” he said during the 2023 season. “A lot of what I’ve been through, God prepared me for moments of not only distress but he prepared me for success. I know everything happens for a reason & that God has a purpose & a plan.”
What to Expect in Stroud’s Second Season
The Texans added playmaking wide receiver Stefon Diggs during the offseason, and it shouldn’t take long for him to become CJ Stroud’s favorite target. Running back Joe Mixon was also brought in, and he will help add a little bit of thunder to the rest of Houston’s lighting. Throw in emerging tight end Dalton Schultz, and Stroud has many gadgets to work with.
“The Houston team, there is some magic, there’s no doubt, in that city. It’s such a football town,” CBS Sports commentator Jim Nantz said on the Rich Eisen Show recently. “CJ Stroud is a star. Although they’re not featured prominently on [CBS Sports], they are given six national windows this year. So, the league sees it, sees what’s coming.”
What could be coming is a trip to New Orleans for The Big Game. With what we have seen thus far from CJ Stroud? He seems like the man to lead them there. He’s already one of the best QBs in the NFL, and he’ll only be 23 years old this October.
The sky is the limit for this bona fide star. The only question is: Just how high will he soar?
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Ryan K Boman is the author of the 2023 book, Pop Music & Peanut Butter: A Collection of Essays about Embracing Life with Laughter & Love. His previous work has appeared at The Miami Herald, SB Nation, Bounding into Sports, and Yardbarker. Follow him on social media @RyanKBoman.
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