COLUMBUS, Ohio — If you look good, you play good.
That’s the thought of Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, who gave each of his teammates $500 gift cards to buy new suits for the 2022 season.
Earlier this year, the Buckeyes signal-caller and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba became brand ambassadors for Express after the passage of the new name, image and likeness rules for college athletes, WBNS-TV reported.
The team posted a video on Thursday, and the second-year starter told his teammates that he wanted them to look good when No. 2-ranked Ohio State opens its season at the Horseshoe against Notre Dame on Saturday night.
“I just wanted to do something for the team, so I got everybody $500 gift cards to go to Express and get y’all own suits, man,” Stroud told his teammates. “Make sure y’all really get some suits, look fly. Make sure we all look good as a team.”
The sophomore led Ohio State to an 11-2 record in 2021, including a Rose Bowl victory against Utah, according to Sports-Reference.com. Stroud also finished fourth in last year’s Heisman Trophy voting. He passed for 4,435 yards and 44 touchdowns.
Stroud was chosen as one of the Buckeyes’ six team captains for 2022, according to WBNS.