For every successful professional athlete, there's at least one coach who played a large part in molding them as a youth. Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is no different, and the former Ohio State Buckeye sat down with PEOPLE Magazine to to discuss one of the biggest influences in his sports life.
As a youngster, Stroud was part of the Snoop Youth Football League, founded by Grammy winner Snoop Dogg.
"I played for his league," Stroud, 22, told PEOPLE. "He was one of the coaches that was running the league and he was part of the team that I was on."
Snoop founded the youth football league in 2005 as a nonprofit organization to give inner-city kids a safe haven and a chance to play organized football. "I was probably like sixth, seventh, eighth grade — around middle school," says Stroud of when he played for the league.
Snoop recalled Stroud as a youth and remembered him being “so laser-focused” and spiritual. “He’s so positive,” Snoop said. “That’s what I like about him is that he’s pushing a different narrative than a lot of these other guys in the league. He’s pushing a real narrative of spirit love and just being a voice of positivity.”
Stroud remembered Snoop's hospitality and how he shunned his celebrity status around the kids.
"He used to invite us to his house and things like that," says Stroud. "That goes a long way. It just seemed like it is more than where you come from. There's a lot more to life and he showed us that... So definitely really appreciative and grateful for Coach Snoop and everything that he's done. I'm still in contact with him and he's been a blessing on my life for sure."
More must-reads: