Big Ten Media Days: C.J. Stroud, Cade McNamara have chips on their shoulders

By Laken Litman
FOX Sports activities Faculty Soccer Author

INDIANAPOLIS — A 12 months in the past, C.J. Stroud hadn’t even thrown a school go, a lot much less been named Ohio State‘s beginning quarterback. 

Then he went on to change into a Heisman Trophy finalist, lead Ohio State to the Rose Bowl and take cost of the most effective offense within the nation as a freshman. The Buckeyes have been ranked No. 1 in complete offense (561.5 yards per sport) and scoring offense (45.7 PPG) final 12 months, and Stroud handed for 4,435 yards with 44 touchdowns to simply six interceptions. He completed second nationally in passer effectivity score (186.6) and broke 17 program data.

And but, as fall camp is ready to start subsequent week, Stroud stated he does not actually suppose he was profitable final 12 months.

“I do not suppose I did lots,” he stated this week at Large Ten media days. “I really feel like I’ve barely touched my potential. I really feel like I can do much more … There’s at all times room for enchancment. I take a look at Tom Brady and his mindset. He comes again yearly with one thing to show that he has to do higher.

“And I respect that as a result of, I imply, it is a combat. It is a problem day by day. It is not simple to do. It is not simple to rise up. All people pats you on the again for easy stuff, stuff I am speculated to do — which I respect, however I do not want that. I do not pat myself on the again. I feel I am my largest critic.”

C.J. Stroud will win the Heisman, and Jack Sawyer can have a breakout 12 months

RJ Younger explains why he believes Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud will win the Heisman Trophy this season, due partially to the unimaginable quantity of expertise surrounding him in Tre Henderson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Stroud, simply 20 years previous, was extremely comfy and relaxed at his first media days. He spoke with reporters for an hour, joked round about NCAA Soccer online game rankings and talked about his ardour for cooking. His mother taught him tips on how to prepare dinner when he was youthful, and he enjoys whipping up a soul meals dinner for his teammates at the very least as soon as per week. His favourite menu options mac ‘n’ cheese, fried rooster and waffles.

Whereas Stroud’s declaration about not conducting a lot final 12 months prompted many follow-up questions — nearly as many as “What’s in that mac ‘n’ cheese recipe?” — coach Ryan Day stated he wasn’t shocked by such feedback. 

“That is the best way he’s,” Day stated. “He’s very pushed. He desires it actually dangerous. He is very aggressive, however he is an excellent chief. I feel within the offseason, he acknowledged that it takes everyone [to win], and that comes with maturity. And he is finished a wonderful job of that.

“However to say he completed nothing final 12 months — that is not correct. However that is his strategy, and I feel that is what makes him nice. And I respect that about him. He did a variety of nice issues final 12 months, however I feel his finest soccer is forward of him.”

Stroud clarified later that he does not really feel a have to show something. However he does need to present extra of what he can do, reminiscent of operating the ball, primarily as a result of his buddies from residence gave him a tough time for speeding for minus-20 yards final season. He additionally talked about enhancing his game-management abilities.

Even so, Day stated Stroud has “actually had an edge” this offseason and has change into much more of a staff chief.

“He is at all times had a voice,” Day stated. “When you go on the sector and also you present credibility that you are able to do it, you stroll a little bit in another way, and guys take a look at you thru a distinct lens. I feel that is been the case.

“I feel once you’re younger, and also you go right into a season, and you have not performed, you are simply making an attempt to determine a method to full that first go, get that first win, and also you’re so centered in your job and possibly the offense.”

Michigan’s QB scenario

Jim Harbaugh would love you to play into his quarterback battle thoughts video games and query what you suppose you realize about who will begin at Michigan in Week 1 towards Colorado State.

Final 12 months, Cade McNamara led Michigan to a win over Ohio State, a Large Ten title and the Faculty Soccer Playoff. However he enters his senior season with the added stress of proving why he ought to preserve his job. That is as a result of sophomore J.J. McCarthy, a former five-star prospect who’s recovering from a shoulder harm, had been extensively thought to overhaul McNamara as a real freshman, nevertheless it did not occur.

Whereas he may be irritated by the fixed questioning and the truth that he hasn’t formally locked up his spot but, McNamara maturely answered questions on the subject at media days.

“I feel it doesn’t matter what place you are in, when you change into complacent, you change into weak,” he stated. “I feel this complete, complete scenario has actually helped me in that sense that I’ve zero complacency as to what my scenario is and the place I’m on the depth chart. If something, I am getting higher and quicker than me simply sitting within the quarterback room comfortably.”

In the meantime, Harbaugh made issues extra complicated.

“Cade McNamara goes to be actually powerful to beat out for the beginning quarterback job,” he stated. “J.J. McCarthy goes to be actually powerful to beat out for the beginning quarterback job.”

This prompted additional questioning about how McNamara has responded to coming into fall camp with out being advised he is the starter. 

“Who stated he wasn’t coming into because the starter coming into fall camp?” Harbaugh stated. “I did not say he wasn’t the starter.”

So is he?

“Yeah, Cade is the beginning quarterback,” Harbaugh stated. “Once we line up, first observe, he’ll be with the primary staff. Now, ultimately over coaching camp, J.J. will get the identical alternative that Cade will. They’re each going to get a ton of reps, and there might be time for them to have that competitors and decide who the beginning quarterback is for the primary sport.”

Harbaugh hopes the quarterback battle might be “aggressive, not combative” and laid out the standards that may decide who wins. This consists of which quarterback can lead the staff into the top zone. Harbaugh famous a number of occasions that McNamara did this on greater than 50% of his drives final season.

Taking good care of the soccer and limiting turnovers, playmaking capacity and who performs finest within the passing sport are additionally issues he is analyzing. 

“Put the balls on the market on Aug. 3, they usually’ll have at it,” Harbaugh stated.

Is Michigan being disrespected after profitable the Large Ten?

RJ Younger discusses the Michigan Wolverines as they put together to attempt to repeat as Large Ten Champions.

What ought to the Faculty Soccer Playoff seem like?

Maybe growth discuss in school soccer won’t ever finish. 

The topic, because it pertains to convention realignment and the Faculty Soccer Playoff, has taken middle stage throughout each convention media day extravaganza this month. This consists of the Large Ten, which joined the Pac-12 and ACC final 12 months in voting towards a 12-team mannequin after months of debate. Now, within the wake of changing into much more highly effective with the additions of USC and UCLA coming in 2024, commissioner Kevin Warren is extra bullish. 

“I am one hundred pc supportive of Faculty Soccer Playoff growth,” Warren stated. “What’s that proper quantity? We’ll determine it out. I am assured we’ll get the Faculty Soccer Playoff growth resolved.” 

The present four-team format ends when the CFP deal expires on the finish of the 2025-26 season, which implies there’s loads of time for commissioners to give you a brand new plan. Totally different concepts have been kicked round, together with 12- and 16-team proposals.

After all, the latter supplies extra entry, extra video games and extra money throughout. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey advised ESPN at convention media days final week that “he’d heard elevated chatter about 16 groups changing into a dialogue level.”

Though, as Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald identified, it is troublesome to have any actual playoff growth dialogue if you do not know what the conferences will seem like. 

“If we’ve a Energy 5, we are able to do it that method, but when we’ve a Energy 4, Energy 3 or a Energy 2, that modifications the panorama,” he stated. “I am not going to present an opinion till I do know what panorama we’re speaking about. So let’s determine it out, so we are able to get transferring. 

“I am simply glad we’re on this convention.”

That final bit was a standard sentiment from most Large Ten coaches this week, who form of joked about how completely happy they’re to be on this convention at a time reminiscent of this. 

Warren desires the Large Ten to prepared the ground in all facets of change in school athletics. He desires his convention to “rework and be transformative.” And he desires to make choices that, “after we look again 30 years from now, folks will say that the Large Ten Convention was forward of the curve in making these choices.”

An early instance is that after USC and UCLA are members, the Large Ten can have a presence from coast to coast and within the nation’s three largest markets: New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. 

“You are going to get up watching Large Ten soccer and go to mattress watching Large Ten soccer,” Fitzgerald joked.

Warren vowed to be daring and aggressive in the case of the various points going through school sports activities, together with realignment and growth. May the Large Ten add extra colleges? He says these sorts of potential strikes and future choices “might be finished for the best causes on the proper time.”

“It is necessary for all of us in enterprise to acknowledge that we’re in a time of change,” Warren added. “I feel there’s two sorts of folks on the planet: They take a look at change as an issue, or they take a look at change as a possibility. I am a type of people that, when change happens, I get enthusiastic about it. It is actually a possibility for us to do a variety of issues that folks have thought of however possibly been a little bit reticent to do.

“So I am embracing change.”

Laken Litman covers school soccer, school basketball and soccer for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand coated school soccer, school basketball, the U.S. Ladies’s Nationwide Soccer Staff and the Olympics at Sports activities Illustrated, USA As we speak and The Indianapolis Star. Her first ebook, written in partnership with Rizzoli and Sports activities Illustrated and titled “Robust Like a Lady,” was revealed in spring 2022 marking the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX.

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