Texans GM explains why he drafted Cade Stover, and C.J. Stroud’s name didn’t come up: Buckeye Breakfast

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Houston Texans certainly hope to rekindle the Ohio State football connection quarterback C.J. Stroud built with tight end Cade Stover in 2022.

Stover broke out for 406 yards and five touchdowns on 36 receptions after Stroud, en route to becoming a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, locked in on him as a trusted target.

Texans general manager Nick Caserio explained why the team selected Stover with pick No. 123 in the fourth round on Saturday. The entirety of his answer, though, focused on Stover’s intangibles and potential and not his quarterback.

“This guy is as tough and hard-nosed a player as they had in the program” Caserio said. “... Cade’s a good example of a player who — he’s only played tight end for two years, so he’s certainly not a finished product. But he has the mindset and the work ethic to improve. How he was raised — I mean, this guy is everything you want in a football player and then more.”

Caserio recognized Stover played the entire second half of the season with a brace on his right knee. He still improved his numbers to 576 yards on 41 receptions.

“I think he had an MCL or had an issue where quite frankly it would have limited some other players, but he just braced it up and he just kept playing football,” Caserio said. “I don’t want to speak for Demeco (Ryans, Texans head coach), but I think we feel the same way. This is probably one of our favorite football players in the entire draft, regardless of position, because of his mentality, because of his mindset — and, he still is developing as a player.”

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Caserio’s timeline is not perfect. Stover played tight end throughout the 2021 season, too, and only shifted to linebacker for the Rose Bowl due to a lack of numbers. Still, he thinks the relatively new tight end has unrealized upside.

“Blue collar as they come, and from a makeup, traits, toughness, mentality — this is an elite guy,” Caserio said.

Hall gets call

Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson had the catbird seat when Mike Hall Jr. got the call that he had been drafted by the Browns with the No. 54 pick in the NFL Draft’s second round. Though Johnson has been through that moment dozens of times in his career, you could see the genuine emotion when another of his players achieved his dream.

This video clip from G.O.A.T. Farm Sports showed player and coach taking in the moment.

Wrestling coach update

Ohio State wrestling coach Tom Ryan continues to recover from non-life threatening injuries sustained in a car crash on April 23. According to the family, Ryan suffered multiple left leg fractures, which required multiple surgeries, and a severe concussion. He remains hospitalized.

The family set up a Caring Bridge page to provide updates on his progress. They also encouraged people to send well-wishes and encouragement to Ryan at tomryanrecovery@gmail.com

Stroud going mobile

Former Ohio State football quarterback C.J. Stroud announced last week he is the cover athlete for the new mobile game NFL 2K Playmakers. Users collect cards of their favorite players and use them to play various gama modes.

The game is available from both the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Key dates

• Transfer portal entry deadline: 1 day, Tuesday
• Chelsea vs. Manchester City soccer match at Ohio Stadium: 96 days, Aug. 3
• 2024 opener vs. Akron: 124 days, Aug. 31
• Ohio State at Oregon: 166 days, Oct. 12
• The Game 2024: 215 days, Nov. 30