Analyst explains why Ohio State's Ryan Day is big part of C.J. Stroud's rookie success

Houston Texas quarterback C.J Stroud had an excellent rookie season. So much so that he was named a Pro Bowler as well as the NFL's Rookie of the Year.

That's not easy to do for a quarterback, especially when considering all the responsibilities and pressures that go into the position.

Being a quarterback in the NFL is hard. Being a rookie quarterback in the NFL? Well, let's just say that not many have what it takes to succeed right off the bat.

But Stroud? All he did was throw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns with just five interceptions. The moment, nor the transition from college, wasn't too big for him, and in part, ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky (a former NFL quarterback in his own right) believes that Stroud can thank his former college coach — Ohio State's Ryan Day — for that.

"C.J. Stroud in part had that year last year, at least in my beliefs because of the way that Ryan Day coaches those quarterbacks at Ohio State,” Orlovsky recently said on "The Pat McAfee Show" (h/t On3). “Like they, they have long play calls. You just gotta make sure that there’s different levels based communication within the huddle. I think that really was like a huge foundation for him and his success.”

While Day does deserve some credit, let's keep giving the lion's share of it to Stroud. Day also coached Dwayne Haskins and Justin Fields, and neither player even scratched Stroud's level in the NFL.

Still, it can't be denied that Day knows how to coach up solid college quarterbacks. Going back to his time as OSU's quarterback coach, he's had a hand in developing Stroud, Fields, Haskins, JT Barrett and even Joe Burrow. 

Interestingly enough, Day now has to try to work his magic again. The Buckeyes head into 2024 without a named starting quarterback, but the money is on either Kansas State transfer Will Howard or junior Devin Brown winning the job.