The Ohio State Buckeyes are widely expected to use Will Howard as their quarterback this season. He transferred to the school from Kansas State and is competing with both Devin Brown and Julian Sayin.
Although he is intended to be a starter, there are big questions about him
During the 2023 season with the Wildcats, Howard completed 61.3 percent of his pass attempts for 2,643 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 351 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.
Those numbers may not be bad, but they are far from elite, leading many to question whether he is the one who will truly lead Ohio State back to the national championship.
Chip Kelly, the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator, recently commented on Howard. He made a very interesting comparison to an NFL star quarterback.
That quarterback was none other than Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen.
“He can challenge the defense. I talked to Jimmy Knowles. When you have someone who can be a dual threat, that’s really hard to defend. We know how fast Will is. When he runs, he doesn’t gain 6 yards. When he gets going, he can gain 60 yards. He’s made some really big runs so far in his career. That’s just another tool in your toolbox. Will is probably more of a Josh Allen because he’s a bigger guy. That adds a dimension to your offense.”
Howard’s ability to play both in the air and on the ground makes him a very dangerous player for Ohio State, but he will need to improve on his passing numbers from last year.
Fortunately, he will be surrounded by a much more talented supporting cast. He will have elite talent at wide receiver and in the backfield, along with him at running back. The offensive line should be top-notch as well.
It’s a great honor to be compared to a quarterback like Allen. This comparison also shows how highly Kelly rates his quarterback.
Hopefully he can live up to expectations this season. If he can, Howard could lead the Buckeyes into championship contention.
