C.J. Stroud, the star quarterback for the Houston Texans, narrowly missed out on his first ESPY nomination. Despite being one of four finalists for Breakthrough Athlete of the Year, the award ultimately went to USC freshman JuJu Watkins.
While Stroud didn’t claim the ESPY on Thursday night, his nomination underscored his standout performance as a rookie quarterback in the 2023 season. His impressive debut season culminated in him becoming the franchise’s first Offensive Rookie of the Year and the first Texans quarterback since Deshaun Watson to earn a Pro Bowl selection.
Selected as the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Stroud made an immediate impact, delivering one of the most remarkable rookie quarterback campaigns in NFL history. He amassed a total of 4,557 passing yards, threw 26 touchdowns, and only five interceptions, including postseason play.
A highlight of Stroud’s season was his pivotal role in the Texans’ Week 9 comeback victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he threw for 470 yards, completed 30 of 42 passes, and recorded five touchdowns with no interceptions, securing a 39-37 win.
Stroud and Watkins were part of an elite group of athletes who gained widespread recognition over the past year. The Breakthrough Athlete of the Year category also featured gymnast Haleigh Bryant and basketball player Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.
Watkins’ stellar season contributed to the USC Trojans Women’s Basketball team’s impressive 29-6 record in the 2023-24 season, averaging 27.1 points, 2.3 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game.
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