Will Howard was the find of the year for Ryan Day for the 2024 season. After spending several years at Kansas State, the 23-year-old jumped ship to try his chances with the Buckeyes.
Well, it turned out to be in his favor, as he led Ohio State to a national championship game, finally ending a 10-year drought despite heavy scrutiny throughout the season.
His role proved vital for Ryan Day to navigate amid the criticisms of Michigan’s regular-season loss. As he heads into the NFL Draft, NFL analyst Joel Klatt is optimistic about the passer.
Will Howard Draws Big Support From Will Howard
The 2024 season was a breakout year for Howard from a career standpoint. A prospect who was never in the draft chatter became an instant hit. One of the highlighting moments is that Ryan Day trusted him with crucial gameplay and reportedly let him call the shots midgame.
It turned out to be effective deep into the season when Howard looked like a completely different person. Speaking about his prospects, Klatt listed the Ohio State QB fifth on his list. If not a first-round pick, Klatt projects him to be an early pick in subsequent rounds.
“I think he’s actually going to get more positive reviews as people evaluate his game further, getting closer to the draft. Will Howard unquestionably played his best football late in the season. I don’t think people realize how good Howard was in the playoffs,” Klatt said on his show.
“Now, did he play great against Michigan? No, he did not. It was part of that getting banged up and possibly getting nicked up. From a head injury perspective, it could have been, it could have been, but when he got into the playoffs, man, that dude was lights out.
“He was lights out and set a completion percentage record at Ohio State University; that’s something to be said for that led him to a national championship under all that pressure and scrutiny, even after losing to Michigan.
“This year he’s 6-foot-4, 235 pounds. He’s run the football well in his past. And like I said, you turn on that film in the playoffs, and it is really good. He’s got great command of what’s going on,” Klatt added to his analysis.
Expect Howard to be a second-round pick. Teams that want to rebuild for the future can definitely place a bet on him. His showdown at Ohio State happens to be a testament to his grit and resilience.