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Former KSU QB Howard earns starting QB spot at Ohio State | K-State Sports

Former Kansas State star quarterback Will Howard has secured the starting spot at Ohio State, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day announced Thursday.

Howard, who left K-State after the final regular-season game of the 2023 season and transferred to Ohio State, the preseason No. 2 seed, had a talented but inexperienced quarterback roster to compete with in Columbus. The Downingtown, Pennsylvania native managed to beat out returning sophomore Devin Brown and five-star freshman Julian Sayin in the battle for the starting job.

“(Howard) was a lot better than the others in terms of teamwork,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said, according to an article on Cleveland.com. “…We're excited to have Will as the starter. I think Will has really taken control of the offense. You feel him in the huddle. You feel his experience.”

Howard is coming off a four-year career at K-State, where he won a Big 12 championship, broke the record for most career touchdown passes thrown (45) and set the record for most touchdowns thrown in a season (21).

Howard arrived in Manhattan as a true freshman during the 2020 pandemic season. Due to an injury to Skylar Thompson, Howard played in the final nine games of the season and started each of the final seven games. He set the school record for most passing touchdowns by a freshman and ranked fifth in school history among freshmen in rushing yards and passing yards.

Then, as a sophomore, he played in six games, including three as a starter.

In 2022, Nebraska transfer Adrian Martinez earned the starting job early in the season, but against TCU, Howard took over for Martinez midway through the year after an injury and didn't let up for the rest of the game, leading K-State to its third Big 12 title and first Sugar Bowl appearance.

As a junior, he threw 1,633 yards and 15 touchdowns on 119 of 199 passes with only four interceptions.

In 2023, Howard set a career high with 2,190 yards and 21 touchdowns on 64% passing (182-285). He also ran for 287 yards on 66 carries and a career-high seven rushing touchdowns. He helped K-State to eight wins for the third consecutive season, the first time since 2011-14.

Howard left Manhattan in the top 10 all-time in completions (421, tied for 5th), completion percentage with at least 400 attempts (60%, 5th), passing yards (5,333, 5th) and yards per game (166.7, 6th).

Ohio State opens the 2024 season at home against Akron on August 31.

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