C.J. Stroud will always be attached to Bryce Young.

The Houston Texans quarterback went second in the 2023 NFL Draft after Young landed with the Carolina Panthers at No. 1 overall. Both gunslingers grew up in California, with Young playing for the Inland Empire Ducks while Stroud suited up for Pomona Valley Steelers.

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The duo also finished top three in the Heisman Trophy voting during 2021, with Young becoming the first Alabama quarterback to claim the title. And they trained together ahead of the draft with the intent of becoming franchise quarterbacks for their respective programs.

While Stroud, who won the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year Award after becoming the fourth first-year passer to throw for 4,000 yards, has found more success entering Year 3, he’s perhaps Young’s biggest supporter around the league. Even when Young struggled as a rookie and eventually ended up getting benched, Stroud knew his friend would figure it out.

He has, and it was on display throughout Thursday’s joint practice at the Methodist Training Center in Houston. Carolina seems poised to make waves in the NFC South this upcoming fall, and Stroud isn’t surprised to see the No. 1 overall pick live up to his status.

“He’s very even keeled, very to himself. I think I’ve seen a dog come out of him that he has that a lot of people haven’t seen,” Stroud said. “But I know he dealt with some frustrations. I think it’s good that we go through these ups and downs to refocus you back on what’s important. I think he had that, and I had that last year as well. I think he bounced back like he should, and we all know he can. He’s a heck of a player, one of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever seen in my life. He needs some help around him too. I’m just really proud of that guy. Just the same way he said about me, through every ups and downs, every valley and peak, he stayed the same guy, stayed loyal and stayed a friend and a brother. So, I’m very appreciative of him.”

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Stroud and Young will do battle in Saturday’s exhibition outing, which kicks off at Noon CT from NRG Stadium.

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans: C.J. Stroud ‘proud’ of Panthers’ Bryce Young’s bounce back