CJ Stroud recalls Georgia's recruiting pitch, shares vision Kirby Smart had for the offense
CJ Stroud nearly committed to Georgia, and the Ohio State quarterback spent some time on Tuesday recalling how he was recruited to the Bulldogs.
“I went on an official visit, and I did have an in-home visit with him and Coach (Dell) McGee,” Stroud said at a Peach Bowl press conference. “I think it was one of the other coaches, too. But, yeah, it was — they were very respectful. I enjoyed my time up there, met some of the players, and I think some of them still play for them now. So I have respect for them, and I think they have respect for me. I got to see them up at the Heisman (Trophy ceremony) with Stetson. Got to talk to Coach Smart a good bit. He’s a good dude, definitely a good coach. Come around a full 360 to be playing with them now. So I’m excited to do that.”
It was close, but I’m glad where I went, and I’ll ride with that till I die. So, yeah, they were like second in my recruitment, but I feel I made the right decision coming to Ohio State.”
Stroud was also asked what the recruiting pitch was like, and how he was sold to possibly be in the Georgia offense.
“It was so long ago. Well, not that long ago. It was like 3, 4 years ago. But they were more so on the side of passing a little more, being on the — because I think I am dynamic when it comes to throwing the ball down the field, staying in the pocket, working things like that,” Stroud said. “And of course they knew getting Darnell (Washington) who was in my class. And then they’ve always had great defense with Kelee (Ringo) and dudes they had back then. So they were really excited to have an offensive attack as well as really good defense. So that was kind of the pitch. And then Coach (James) Coley, who was the quarterback coach at the time loved how kind of my footwork was and how I could still extend plays and make plays on the run and do things like that. So that was kind of their pitch.”
Stroud also shared how he feels about Ohio State being an underdog: