Will Howard’s draft stock might not be at the top of the board, but there’s no denying the physical tools he brings to the table. After capping off his college career with a national title at Ohio State, the former Kansas State quarterback enters the 2025 NFL Draft with size, arm strength and a sneaky athletic profile that’s caught the attention of scouts. Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about the Buckeyes’ big-bodied signal-caller.
How Tall Is Will Howard?
Howard measured exactly 6-foot-4 at the NFL Combine. That’s an inch taller than the average NFL quarterback, who comes in around 6-foot-3.
Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert, both 6-foot-6, are currently the tallest QBs in the league. Howard isn’t far off, and his size makes his physical traits even more intriguing.
How Much Does Howard Weigh?
Howard checks in at 236 pounds, putting him above the 225-pound average for quarterbacks.
How Old Is Howard?
Born Sept. 24, 2001, Howard is 23 years old, in line with the average age for a QB entering the draft.
Where Did Howard Go to School?
Growing up in Pennsylvania, he attended Downingtown West High School, where he was named the Maxwell Football Club Pennsylvania Player of the Year in his senior year. He wrapped up his high school career with 5,308 passing yards and 48 touchdown passes.
A three-star recruit, Howard committed to Kansas State over more than 20 scholarship offers. He spent three seasons with the Wildcats, starting several games as both a freshman and junior.
For his senior season — and final year of eligibility — Howard transferred to Ohio State, where he led the Buckeyes to a national title in 2024 as their starting quarterback.
Revisiting Howard’s College Career
During his time at Kansas State, Howard was constantly battling for the starting job. As a freshman, he was the backup to Skylar Thompson but ended up starting the final seven games after Thompson suffered a serious injury.
He finished his freshman season with 90 completions on 168 attempts for 1,178 yards, eight touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 364 yards and three scores.
The following year, Howard again backed up Thompson, then stepped in as the starter when Adrian Martinez went down with an injury.
Howard transferred to Ohio State the following season and was named the immediate starter. There, he completed 309 of 423 passes for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 226 yards and seven touchdowns.
How Fast Was Howard’s 40-Yard Dash?
Howard didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Combine, but he was clocked at 4.5 seconds at Ohio State’s pro day.
Howard’s NFL Outlook and Scouting Report
PFN’s 2025 NFL Mock Draft has the Miami Dolphins taking Howard at No. 115 overall. Whether he’ll compete for a QB1 role right away remains to be seen.
Howard is likely to get drafted, and he offers more physical upside than your typical Day 3 backup. He feels like a solid pick in the Round 5 range, but with a thinner QB class in 2025, a team could take him earlier.
As noted by PFSN’s Jacob Infante in his draft profile, Howard developed into a more comfortable pocket passer, with good ball-carrier vision and sneaky speed for a big-bodied quarterback.
Howard’s got a cannon for an arm that puts real velocity behind his throws. His upper-body mechanics are solid, and he’s got a quick, compact release. He can take hits in the pocket and has the frame to stand up to NFL defenders.
When you watch him throw, Howard looks the part. His deep-ball accuracy took a step forward in 2024, helping him maximize his natural arm talent. And his growth from a 3-7 starter early in his college career to a national champion is a real testament to his development.
That said, Howard still made some questionable decisions in 2024 — something that’s been a theme in his college career. If he wants to level up in the NFL, he’ll need to take better care of the football and sharpen his progressions.
