C.J. Stroud told to 'play better' by Ohio State football fans on Venmo app during season
C.J. Stroud wasn't surprised about the attention he received as Ohio State's starting quarterback over the past two seasons.
But looking back, Stroud told radio host Jim Rome about the ways Ohio State fans would try and get his attention during his time in Columbus.
"For me and my teammates, man, being at Ohio State, if you have any source of social media or type of technology, Ohio State fans have it," Stroud said. "So, man, I was getting DMs –I don't have social media throughout the season. I was getting DMs on Venmo, the money app, from fans telling me, 'Play better,' things like that."
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In two seasons as Ohio State's starting quarterback, Stroud, a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, threw for 8,123 passing yards, 85 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli has Stroud as the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts, which he has trading up to acquire the Chicago Bears' pick, which would be Ohio State's first No. 1 selection since Orlando Pace was picked by the St. Louis Rams in 1997.
While the fans' approach to getting Stroud's attention proved to be unconventional, he said it came with the territory of being the leader of Ohio State's offense.
"I learned so much from it," Stroud said. "But at the end of the day, like I said, I wasn't trying it prove nobody right or wrong. Just prove ourselves right and who we knew we had."