Frank Reich acts like a proud dad at C.J. Stroud’s Pro Day

March 23, 2023 ndowd

Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich looked like he was a huge fan of Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud at his Pro Day.

Pro Days of particular college programs have already begun. But the first Pro Day of one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft took place on Wednesday. Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud is in the conversation to be selected with the first-overall pick. It just so happens that the team that holds that pick are the Carolina Panthers, who trade multiple high draft picks and wide receiver D.J. Moore to acquire it.

The Panthers contingency were in attendance at Columbus, Ohio, among many other teams scouting all of the Buckeyes prospects eligible for the NFL Draft. When Stroud began his throwing session, Panthers head coach Frank Reich was standing in the front row, and taking photos/videos with his phone.

The video comes courtesy of NBC 4 Columbus’ Whitney Harding.

Frank Reich looked like a big fan of C.J. Stroud at Ohio State Pro Day

Here are some of the throws that Stroud made during his Pro Day, courtesy of Adam King of 10TV Sports.

CJ Stroud points to the sky and then starts his Pro Day.

All the conversations have stopped inside the Woody everyone just watching the potential number one pick.

Panthers head coach Frank Reich is right behind Stroud watching every throw, even recording some on his phone. pic.twitter.com/jcpvE23R2M

— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) March 22, 2023

After his session was over, Stroud was met by not just Reich, but multiple members of the Panthers organization. Those include quarterbacks coach Josh McCown (who has praised Stroud in the past), offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, senior assistant Jim Caldwell, and team owner David Tepper.

And here’s the payoff. CJ Stroud with the Panthers brass, including Thomas Brown, Frank Reich, David Tepper, Josh McCown, and Jim Caldwell. pic.twitter.com/XuOGnBNEyn

— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) March 22, 2023

There is still over a month left until the NFL Draft, and there are still three other Pro Days for the Panthers to attend. On March 23 Alabama’s Bryce Young will be throwing, something he didn’t do at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month. Kentucky’s Will Levis will get a chance to impress scouts on March 24. Then finally, Florida’s Anthony Richardson, who really impressed teams with at the Scouting Combine, will have his Pro Day on March 30.

After that, the Panthers have a few weeks to decide which quarterback can help lead the franchise to success for the foreseeable future. It’s a big decision to make for Carolina, and the rest of the NFL world will be waiting until commissioner Roger Goodell announces the first-overall selection on Thursday, Apr. 27.

source