Call it destiny or a “slap on the face,” but November 30th, 2024, was a wake-up call for Will Howard. A Bucks fan will call it a “blunder” or “Ryan Day should be fired,” but we saw something different. When the Bluebloods stormed Ohio Stadium and the camera panned Howard’s face for a few seconds, we saw heartbreak. We saw a quarterback who came a long way from Kansas State, broken and distraught. But then we remembered what Ryan Day once said about Will Howard: “We put the ball in Will’s hands, and good things happened.” So we got our popcorn ready and got on ESPN to watch the first round of CFP, and what we witnessed that day arguably stands as one of the best comebacks a program has made in recent memory. See, OSU was already good – Howard added that missing spark that made the Bucks great.
“You know, this year at Ohio State, you know, I, I wanted it to be a step up and I, I talked about, you know, the two things that I was looking for in a school were developing as a prospect and developing, you know, my draft stock and competing for a national championship,” Howard admits while talking about his year at OSU. Way back in 2023, in a conversation with Wildcats coach Chris Klieman, Howard had 2 paths: Take the NFL route or use the final year of eligibility to develop further.
Oct 5, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) celebrates after a touchdown run against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the third quarter at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
With Avery Johnson’s rise at Manhattan, Howard’s days as QB1 felt numbered – “I think that the way my career started off, I wasn’t really a great player my first two years at Kansas State,” Howard once mentioned back on Pat McAfee Show. When you pile this up, it does break a young man’s dream of being a superstar – so why risk it?
Howard pointed, “I think my consistency definitely improved, you know, I, you know, being able to, you know, up my completion percentage from whatever 59 or whatever. It was my career at K-State to, you know, 73 this year, I think. You know, I, I was more accurate, you know?” – We know.
From breaking Tennessee’s backs with dime on dime throws for a 82% completion to surviving one of the hardest defensive lines and getting that Natty Win against the Irish.
Everything about Ohio State’s final 4 games was chef’s kiss. You know? As Homelander once said: “It was perfect. Perfect. Down to the last minute detail.” – And honestly? We truly cannot wait to see how this guy rocks it out at the big leagues.
But before that journey starts, Howard still has some unfinished business in Columbus…
Hockey at the Horseshoe
“Returning to Ohio State for one last game.” – When we first heard Howard mentioning this on his IG, trust us, we were scared. Like, the combine is on March 1st? What do you mean you’ll return to Ohio State? But, well, his plans on being back are simply for the Columbus Blue Jackets vs Detroit Red Wings game.
Still, we don’t understand one thing: Who on earth will attend those QB drills at Indy? Unless Howard took a page out of Rick and Morty and made his own clone, being at Indy and at the Hockey game at the same time ain’t possible.
Now chances are, Columbus is going to miss out on their boy. At the end of the day, this combine can decide his destiny: Will Howard – Top 5 pick? Or last pick?
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