The higher you climb, the more devastating a fall is. Will Howard ascended to some gaudy heights alright. Picture swinging for the fences on two strikes at the bottom of the 9th and hitting a home run. With one year of collegiate eligibility left, the quarterback hit the transfer portal. Staring down the barrel of a make-or-break season. Hoping for a surge of some sort that’ll pump his NFL stock. Landing at bluebloods Ohio State was a good omen. But even Howard himself couldn’t have scripted things better than how reality transpired. He’s facilitated a championship to end the Buckeyes’ decade-long drought, with his fingerprints quite literally all over that achievement.
Speaking of reality, Will Howard has had his fair share of hits from monstrous pass-rushers. But when that reality check hits, it inflicts a different kind of pain. More intrinsic than physical, more lasting. Certainly more detrimental. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows in the projected career of this Natty winner. That devastating fall? It’s underway. Even while Howard was throwing darts in scarlet and gray, there was an underlying sentiment: That it’s a mere flash in the pan. That Howard’s sudden uptick during the playoff run was smoke and mirrors. He did have the best receiving corps. in the country to throw to, which fanned the flames of this. So how does Howard prove he’s legitimate, that he’s simply gotten better rather than riding the coattails of Jeremiah Smith and co.?
The NFL Combine down in Indy was a litmus test. Now it’s not like Will Howard was “seeing ghosts” akin to Sam Darnold. But he sure wasn’t seeing his receivers either. A poor showing in the passing drills at the Combine was another checkmark in the case against him from an NFL Draft perspective. A case that keeps building, and has just seen a new wrinkle added to it. You see, one thing working in Howard’s favor is that his contemporaries aren’t perceived to be all that great either. This 2025 QB class is viewed as weak, at least relative to ‘24. So supply isn’t top-end, meaning you can edge the competition out and create demand. But unfortunately, Will Howard can’t catch a break.
If it’s not him directly affecting his stock, it’s a national analyst indirectly cutting it down. Your significant other giving you the silent treatment after you ditched date night for March Madness is one thing. But a draftnik staying silent on you in an elaborate 4-round mock is a whole different proposition. That’s gotta sting, especially since he’s got 8 QBs you beat out to the Natty. Will Howard just got told off, by not being told anything at all.
The official NFL IG handle relayed a graphic pertaining to Chad Reuter’s latest mock draft. It shows eight quarterbacks and where Reuter has them slated to land, alongside the pick number. For Will Howard to not even crack the first 4 rounds is damning. The list includes your regular names Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders going in round 1. As well as Jaxson Dart, rather interestingly. Reuter then has Quinn Ewers at #50, Jalen Milroe at #68, Tyler Shough at #83, Kyle McCord at #104 and Dillon Gabriel at #116. A few of these names being ahead of Howard is really intriguing.
Kyle McCord was deemed surplus to requirements at Ohio State. He was the QB that Will Howard actually replaced. Howard delivered hardware while McCord had to leave for Syracuse with his tail between his legs. So it’s certainly noteworthy he’s been slated ahead. Dillon Gabriel and Quinn Ewers got outperformed by Howard on the same field during that aforementioned playoff run. Now conceded, a one-off game doesn’t prove much. But rising in the big spot is certainly a factor baked into the equation. Scouts and analysts may look past it, but coaches sure rate intangibles and winning. Alas, the counterargument to this will always be how great Howard’s supporting cast was.
Seems like he can’t shake that “bus rider, not bus driver” notion off. But there is potentially light at the end of the tunnel for. His former HC Ryan Day has lended Will Howard a helping hand. By way of lended him some familiar weapons.
Will Howard receives a parting gift from Ryan Day
There’s a special synergy between a quarterback and his wide receivers. One sows the seeds, the other reaps the rewards. Their relationship and graph is strictly reciprocal. A QB needs his receiver to thrive, and vice-versa. It’s only right a bond that intrinsically linked is built over time. So when Will Howard threw to a bunch of WRs at the Combine that he’d never thrown to before, it made sense he was wavering off target. Not being able to find the correct timing. This is actually a reason a ton of QBs don’t even participate in the drill, fearing this lack of chemistry with the pass catchers will get exposed and inturn affect their stock. Howard had to participate given his liquid grade that keeps fluctuating, and fell flat. However, he does have a chance to redeem himself.
Will Howard will be back airing the pigskin at Ohio State’s Pro Day on Wednesday, March 26th. Looking to offset that detrimental Combine in the familiar surrounds of Columbus. Ryan Day’s got his back. During his spring presser after OSU practice, Coach Day said he’s expecting wide receivers Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss to partake in Howard’s passing drill. Two players Howard’s already played with, and can lean on that familiarity. Which shall boost confidence
It may not be Jeremiah Smith, whose health is too important and can’t be risked for Pro Day, or Emeka Egbuka– who’s headed to the NFL himself. But Tate and Inniss are more than potent weapons. Will Howard will look to make a dent into that hivemind of NFL personnel present in Columbus for this spectacle. The lights in Indianapolis may have gotten too bright for him. But being back on campus should alleviate pressure and be conducive to a good performance. He needs it if he wants to stop this slide down mock drafts and big boards. Some of those QBs Chad Reuter has in front are very much within catching distance.
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