Stroud and Young showcase rivalry-turned-friendship in joint practice

C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young, the top two picks from the 2023 NFL draft, carried a lifelong bond into their professional careers as they met again Thursday in a high-profile joint practice between the Houston Texans and the Carolina Panthers. The day underscored a deep, ongoing rivalry-turned-friendship between two Californians who have been connected since youth football and high-profile college careers, and who have each begun to shape their teams’ trajectories in the early stages of the NFL era.

Their shared history runs from the youth leagues in Southern California to a pair of storied college programs, Ohio State and Alabama. The players first crossed paths in an eighth-grade all-star game, where Young’s Inland Empire Ducks faced Stroud’s Pomona Steelers. Stroud, who played cornerback that day, recalls Young’s prolific output with a chuckle about how many passes were completed against him. As they matured into national abbreviations for quarterback excellence, their paths diverged in college but remained tightly connected by a mutual respect. Young has spoken repeatedly about recognizing Stroud’s consistency and leadership, noting that Stroud has long been a standout who...