Ohio
Another former Ohio State football player headed to the Pro Bowl: Buckeye Breakfast
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State was already planning to watch two of its former players participate in the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl and now a third has been added.
C.J. Stroud joins Nick Bosa and Denzel Ward as selections for the game in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday as he replaces Patrick Mahomes as one of the AFC’s quarterbacks in the annual all-star game. Mahomes — and Bosa — will be busy preparing to play in Super Bowl LVIII.
Stroud comes after a rookie season where the No. 2 pick completed 63.9% of his passes for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions while going 9-6 as the Texans’ starter. He also led Houston to an AFC South title and the Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs.
He is one of five rookies in the game joined by defensive end and teammate Will Anderson, Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, Lions tight end Sam LaPorta and Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
The weekend consists of a Skills Showdown at 7 p.m. on Thursday and an in-stadium competition highlighted by 7-on-7 flag football at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. It will be televised on ESPN, ABC, and Disney XD and streamed on ESPN+.
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Former coordinator headed back to NFL
Ryan Day once pulled Jeff Hafley out of the NFL as his first defensive coordinator at Ohio State and now Hafley is headed back. He’s taken a job to be the Packers’ next defensive coordinator after spending the last four years as Boston College’s head coach.
Hafley spent just one year in Columbus in 2019 but coordinated one of the nation’s best defenses and arguably one of the best in program history. With him in charge, OSU allowed just 4.13 yards per play while watching Chase Young be a Heisman Trophy finalist and Jeff Okudah be a Jim Thorpe Award finalist. The two would then be the No. 2 and No. 3 picks in the 2020 NFL Draft as the first two non-quarterbacks taken off the board.
While with Boston College, Hafley led the Golden Eagles to a 22–26 (12–22) and two bowl appearances. They lost the Military Bowl in 2021 then won the Fenway Bowl this past season.
Key dates
- Regular signing period: 10 days, Feb. 7
- NFL Scouting Combine: 37 days, Feb. 27-March 4
- Ohio State spring game: 75 days, April 13
- NFL Draft: 87 days, April 25-27
- 2024 opener vs. Southern Miss: 215 days, Aug. 31
- The Game 2024: 303 days
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