Will Howard Assured 2024 Confirmed His True Talents: ‘My Growth Actually All Occurred At Ohio State’

Steelers rookie QB Will Howard had his greatest 12 months in school in 2024. He additionally believes it’s his most consultant 12 months, explaining why. Just lately, showing on former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger’s Footbahlin podcast, he talked about his journey, which led him to Ohio State final 12 months.

After successful the Huge 12 championship with Kansas State, Howard initially deliberate to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. However that they had a disappointing follow-up marketing campaign, and he felt there was extra he might get out of his school profession. However he knew he couldn’t discover it at Kansas State, which appeared prepared to maneuver in one other course.

“I’d gotten so much out of my profession there, however I simply didn’t suppose coming again for a fifth 12 months there was the best choice for me”, Howard mentioned. “I believe I maximized my potential there, and I knew that if I wished to go and do one other 12 months of faculty, it needed to be some place else”.

Even after coming into the switch portal, Howard mentioned he nonetheless anticipated declaring for the draft. However he didn’t like what he was listening to. “I didn’t really feel like my expertise stage met the place my draft inventory was. I used to be a Day-3-to-undrafted man”.

“Going into the NFL, you’ll be able to have success wherever you’re drafted. Ideally, beginning quarterbacks—and that’s my aim, to be a beginning quarterback within the NFL—they normally come from the primary spherical. So I wished to provide myself the very best likelihood to do this”, he mentioned. That’s how Will Howard ended up at Ohio State, having additionally talked to Miami and USC.

However it was at Ohio State, first with Invoice O’Brien after which Chip Kelly, the place he believes he blossomed. “I received so significantly better this previous 12 months”, he insisted. “On the sector, my improvement actually all occurred at Ohio State. I realized a lot on this previous 12 months. All the pieces simply lined up”.

In 34 video games at Kansas State, Howard threw for five,786 yards, finishing 58.8 p.c of his passes. He threw 48 touchdowns to 25 interceptions. Whereas he nonetheless threw 10 interceptions in his lone season with the Buckeyes, Howard additionally threw 35 touchdowns. His completion share additionally skyrocketed to 73.0, throwing for over 4,000 yards. Oh, and he led Ohio State to a nationwide title, taking part in his greatest soccer within the playoffs.

So that’s the Will Howard that he believes the Steelers are getting. And there’s loads of precedent for gamers blossoming of their remaining collegiate season and happening to have NFL careers reflecting that progress. We’ll see whether or not that would be the case for Howard or not. As a sixth-round choose, he isn’t below a lot strain for now.

Not externally, anyway. Internally, he is aware of what he desires. Will Howard intends to be a beginning quarterback within the NFL, and each motion he takes is with that aim in thoughts. He went by means of so much throughout his school profession, and plans to make use of that to write his subsequent chapter.