Ohio State coach Ryan Day’s choice of starting quarterback caused great excitement.
The experience of Will Howard, a transfer from Kansas State who started 27 times as a center since 2020, made him the favorite of a group of passers that exuded youth.
Three of the five scholarship quarterbacks the Buckeyes have on the roster heading into this season are freshmen. Only Devin Brown, a redshirt sophomore, had ever started a game in college.
Rather, it was the timing of the decision that contained the whole intrigue.
Because Day had succeeded Urban Meyer at the helm of the program, he had waited until at least the end of preseason camp before deciding a quarterback competition.
When he named Justin Fields the starter in 2019, the announcement came 12 days before the opener against Florida Atlantic.
An identical schedule followed two years later when Day nominated CJ Stroud for the top spot in the rankings.
Last year’s fight was particularly lengthy, lasting until September before Kyle McCord finally kept Devin Brown at bay.
If the recent experience weighed on Day and caused him to declare himself the starting quarterback early in his tenure, he didn’t admit it. Standing behind a microphone in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center auditorium Thursday afternoon, he shook his head.
“Every year is different,” he said.
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Although the protracted battle for position last year was anything but ideal, it reflected reality.
Day said he thought Brown would be on the start line this time last year. Then McCord made a few more strides to overtake him in the race between them, but he didn’t get enough of a lead.
“Before the first few games, I couldn’t look the team in the eye and tell them he was the starter,” Day said, “because they know what they’re seeing. A big part is the locker room.”
McCord needed two starts against Indiana and Youngstown State to secure his spot.
But for Howard, who has been the team’s best passer throughout the preseason this month, there was no such probationary period.
“This situation, this was the right time,” said Day.
The fact that the Buckeyes have a starting quarterback 16 days before their season opener against Akron should give their offense a boost.
Howard will continue to feature more frequently in the first team, including a training match on Saturday which marks the end of pre-season training.
The expanded playing time gives him more time to get used to his supporting cast, especially the offensive line, which was hit by a series of illnesses earlier this month that left several returning starters out.
As offensive coordinator Chip Kelly reflected on Howard’s emergence, he noted that the next two weeks would give the entire starting lineup and the quarterback a chance to work better together.
“The game is always won by the details,” Kelly said, “and I think the longer the same group of guys are together, the better you get at the details. Getting him involved early is beneficial from that standpoint because with a unit you have more time to do the task.”
Day reflected on his own career as a quarterback at New Hampshire a quarter century ago. After being named the starter, he gained more confidence.
“It gave you a little boost,” he said.
Job security also allowed him to focus on managing the team during his preseason.
But Day has already seen the intangible qualities emerging in Howard that made the announcement a formality of sorts.
“Honestly, Will has taken control of the team over the last four or five days,” Day said, “and I don’t think anyone in the locker room will be surprised.”
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When training camp opened on August 1, Day expressed optimism that a starting quarterback could be found quickly.
He reflected that it could take a week to ten days for the race to be decided.
However, the decision could not be forced and Howard had to struggle with the typical initial difficulties in spring training as a transfer quarterback, which help him get used to a new playbook.
“Everything was brand new,” Day said. “It was a significant change in terms of the scheme and what we ask of a quarterback.”
But Howard, a 6-foot-4 passer who also excels as a runner, stepped up his game when the Buckeyes reconvened for preseason practice.
“It’s pretty impressive where he is now,” said Kelly, who also coaches the quarterbacks.
He deepened his understanding of the system, moved faster and appeared more decisive when passing.
“He makes all the throws,” said defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. “He’s in the pocket, has great vision and arm strength. We have great receivers. He throws the ball where only the receiver can catch it. So for me it’s not just the arm strength, but he also makes the pinpoint passes.”
The step forward gave the Buckeyes staff clarity and resulted in little need to expand the competition in the coming weeks.
They had their answer.
“Every time I’ve been in quarterback competition, it comes through,” Kelly said, “and it’s authentic when it happens.”
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State University football for The Columbus Dispatch. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @joeyrkaufman or email him at [email protected].
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