The Kansas State Wildcats failed to defend their title as 2023 Big 12 champions after defeating the TCU Horned Frogs last year. The projected starting quarterback is now Avery Johnson, who appeared in eight games with two starts last season.
This season, Johnson is expected to be the starter since Will Howard left for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Howard was a topic of discussion on the latest edition of the Paul Finebaum Show. ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranked Howard as the most influential player in the race for the College Football Playoff.
Finebaum had high expectations for Howard, saying the Ohio State quarterback “should hopefully have a big year.”
“…I’d like to start with Will Howard,” Finebaum said. “It’s pretty obvious. He should have a great year. He’s got the most talented compliments around him, but the questions continue to revolve around him, don’t they?”
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) throws during football camp at Woody Hayes Athletic Complex.
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK
Howard started all 12 games for the Wildcats last season, posting 2,643 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. His 2023 stats may not look impressive at first, but Howard will have more weapons at Ohio State.
For comparison: Tight end Ben Sennott led Kansas State with 676 receiving yards. Wideout Phillip Brooks came in second with 589 receiving yards.
The Buckeyes signed former Ole Miss Rebels running back Quinshon Judkins out of the portal this offseason. Judkins had 2,725 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns from 2022-2023.
Ohio State also has wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate back. Former five-star WR Jeremiah Smith and former four-star WR Mylan Graham have joined the team starting in the 2024 class.
It will be interesting to see how Howard handles all of Ohio State’s offensive weapons in 2024. The Buckeyes open the season on August 31 against the Akron Zips.
