COLUMBUS, Ohio — The three quarterbacks competing become Ohio State’s starter each embraced the battle ahead of them this spring and offseason. This week we take a deeper look at how each built his competitive edge, beginning with C.J. Stroud. Opinions were split on the Rancho Cucamonga High School football coaching staff in the summer of 2016. The Cougars needed a new quarterback to replace a three-year starter. Rising junior Nick Acosta was the front-runner — poised, intelligent, and armed with a solid all-around skill set. At the end of the summer, the staff called up a freshman to join the competition. C.J. Stroud’s raw talents — still a few years away from blossoming — could not overtake Acosta that season or the next. But Rancho Cucamonga coach Mark Verti, an assistant when the decision was made, said some on staff believed Stroud’s skills deserved consideration for the job. Acosta,…
Continue Reading: How will C.J. Stroud compete to be Ohio State’s quarterback? Ask the last QB to beat out Stroud
