Will Howard is a 6-foot-5, 243-pound senior quarterback out of Kansas State. He has shown an ability to be versatile and mobile whenever Kansas State needs him to be. This is a quarterback style that Ohio State hasn’t seen since J.T. Barrett. He is excellent with his legs in the red zone and in short third down conversion.
According to "TeamRankings.com,” Ohio State is 34th in the country on the third list. They convert 42% of their third downs. Ohio State struggles in the 3 and medium ranges, mostly because of the lack of run threat. Teams don’t load the box on third, medium, or short against Ohio State. With Will Howard, his rushing threat is too big of a difference to not stack the box on crucial third downs.
This opens up an Ohio State bread-and-butter passing attack loaded with five stars all over. Will Howard’s legs alone make him a crucial difference-maker compared to former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord, and we haven’t even gotten to his arm yet. Will Howard, much like NFL Quarterback Josh Allen, has a gigantic arm with such a big frame. The downfield throws and rushing ability are something Ohio State hasn’t seen in quite some time.
Will Howard has not had a five-star receiver before, nor has he had the athleticism on the outside that Ohio State brings. Will Howard in the 2022 season led Kansas State to a Big 12 title, beating 3rd-ranked TCU. TCU was the same team that beat Michigan in the college football playoffs. TCU was no joke during this season, and Will Howard did something only Georgia could do. It is safe to say that Will Howard is ready for this moment.