CJ Stroud Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Top QB prospect said to have 'ghosted' Manning Passing Academy

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 4/19/23

CJ Stroud is viewed as one of the top quarterback prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft and is expected by many to go as high as the second quarterback taken. Former quarterback Brady Quinn, for instance, ranks Stroud second on his board. But Quinn has also noted that there are a few things about Stroud that may have some teams slightly concerned.

Quinn serves as an analyst for CBS Sports and spoke with Will Brinson and Katie Mox for an interview. He talked about what teams may or may not see in Stroud.

First time I’ve seen this anywhere:

CBS Sports analyst Brady Quinn ranks CJ Stroud as his QB2, but mentions that Stroud initially committed to the Manning Passing Academy, but “the night before he ghosted them and didn’t show up” pic.twitter.com/1UkkaUYVpL

— Edgar Salmingo, Jr. (@PanthersAnalyst) April 19, 2023

“And then there’s some other stuff about interviews. For example, the Manning Passing Academy, I’ve been told that he committed to it the night before and just kind of ghosted them, didn’t show up,” said Quinn.

“That’s football royalty. And when you do that, that’s going to set off some alarms for people. Like, ‘hey man, that’s not how you conduct yourself, especially around the Manning family or just in general if you’re gonna be a franchise quarterback.'”

The Manning Passing Academy is a highly-respected camp that was founded by Archie Manning and has been going strong for over 26 years. Being invited to serve as a counselor is a high honor that comes with the promise of connecting a player with some of the most accomplished coaches and quarterbacks in football. A June 2022 story from the Columbus Dispatch said that Stroud was going to serve as a counselor for the event.

Though Quinn shared that anecdote as one small red flag -- every prospect has a few -- he complimented Stroud’s overall character and said he still believes him to be a good prospect.

“I still view him as the second quarterback that should be taken in this draft class. He’s the most accurate quarterback in this draft class. He showcased the athleticism and ability. Any time I’ve been around the kid, he’s been an upstanding young man who’s grown and matured into a leader.”

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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