The National Football League will have fun charting the careers of two childhood friends from California.
Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud were in several high school camps. Both went to marquee universities, accomplished many individual awards, won a conference championship, and competed in the College Football Playoff. Young earned a CFP National Championship ring in 2020 as a backup during his freshman season. He also captured the Heisman Memorial Trophy in 2021.
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Stroud and Young entered the NFL Draft process with high hopes of going in the first round.
The two friends became Nos. 1 and 2 respectively, as Carolina took Young at No. 1 and Houston got Stroud at No. 2. Both were proud of each other, and Young yelled in excitement when the Texans took Stroud at No. 2 overall. Young and Stroud have a healthy respect for one another, and Stroud spoke on the authentic relationship since draft night. Stroud was thankful to see Young accomplish his goals.
There’s no better feeling than living out your dream with your best friend 🙌@CJ7STROUD | @_bryce_young pic.twitter.com/t3GNSUj4Pl
— NFL (@NFL) June 11, 2023
“It is a feeling you can’t really explain,” Stroud said about his excitement to see Young go No. 1 overall. “I see how hard he works.”
Young shares the same sentiment for Young, calling him his ‘brother.’
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“I have seen him work so hard, and to see it come to fruition, I was happy for him,” Young said about Stroud.
Stroud says his friendship with Young goes back to eighth or ninth grade.
“We both loved playing basketball and found a bond through it,” Stroud said. “We have bonded through football, of course, and then we became brothers. We have been there for each other through thick and thin. It has been a really authentic and great relationship between me and my boy, Bryce.”
Stroud said he’s been a fan of Young and wants to do a jersey swap with him.
The two friends will get that opportunity on Sunday, Oct. 29 as Carolina will host Houston.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
