C.J. Stroud, the Houston Texans quarterback, energized a community with his rookie season performance, leading his team to the playoffs and winning the hardware. On Thursday, Stroud was named the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, with Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua receiving only two first-place votes. Stroud used his time on stage after receiving the honour to motivate others.
“To whatever kid that’s watching, you could do anything you put your mind to,” Stroud went on to say. “I’m a living testimony to perseverance and trusting your goals and your dreams.” Before becoming a good quarterback in collegiate football, the second choice in the 2023 NFL Draft, and the anticipated saviour of the Texans organization, Stroud faced severe adversity.
His father was incarcerated while Stroud was in middle school, leaving his family in financial devastation as well as the obvious consequences of losing a parent to prison.
His history inspired his advocacy, giving him a platform to express his concerns about inequities in the criminal justice system. After some of his career’s most memorable moments, Stroud took the opportunity to speak up for causes he believes in. Stroud also thanked everyone around him throughout his speech, including the Texans organization, his collegiate coaches, family members, and the support he received as a child in California. “Everything you taught me,” Stroud said. “It took a village to raise me, and I appreciate that.”
His dedication has earned him a spot at the NFL Honours event, following one of the best rookie seasons in recent memory. Stroud has established himself as the centrepiece of Houston’s future and one of the game’s most revered quarterbacks, having thrown for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. Expect Stroud to continue having an impact, both on and off the field, regardless of whether the plaudits come as easy as they did during his age-22 season.
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