Former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard has committed to Ohio State out of the transfer portal, as first reported Thursday by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Howard’s commitment comes after his official visit to Ohio State over the past few days, and he had also taken visits to Miami (Fla.) and USC. He entered the transfer portal in November with one season of eligibility remaining.
“I’m glad I took my time with this decision,” Howard told ESPN. “Through it, I got to learn a lot about myself and college football in general. It was a great process. I’m really glad I ended up choosing Ohio State. … I knew if that if I passed this up, I’d regret passing up the chance to go be the quarterback at Ohio State. I knew I’d be kicking myself if I passed up this opportunity.”
The 6-5, 242-pound Howard has thrown for 5,786 yards, 48 touchdowns and 25 interceptions over the last four seasons and 27 starts with the Wildcats while rushing for 921 yards and 19 additional scores. A former three-star recruit out of Downington (Pa.) West, Howard was a member of Kansas State’s 2020 recruiting class and ended up starting seven games his freshman season.
He started just three games the following season, but returned to the starting lineup for the Wildcats over the last two seasons, culminating in his most recent campaign in which he completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 2,643 yards and 24 touchdowns to 10 interceptions while rushing for 351 yards and nine scores, earning second-team All-Big 12 honors. He also helped Kansas State win the Big 12 Championship Game in 2022.
Howard figures to immediately factor into the starting discussion for Ohio State, which is looking to replace Kyle McCord under center following his transfer to Syracuse. The Buckeyes had hoped to see more from rising redshirt sophomore Devin Brown in the Cotton Bowl, but he suffered a high-ankle sprain early in the loss, while true freshman Lincoln Kienholz completed just 6 of 17 for 86 yards of his passes in relief of Brown, with both struggling due to poor play on the offensive line.
In addition to Howard, Brown and Kienholz, Ohio State’s quarterback room – barring any spring transfers – will also include incoming five-star freshman Air Noland. While Howard is unlikely to have been guaranteed the starting job ahead of his arrival in Columbus, he will likely enter the offseason and spring practice as the expected starter for the Buckeyes given his experience and dual-threat ability.
“The goal I have, I want to go win a national championship,” Howard said. “At the end of the day, I want to go be a starting quarterback in the NFL. … I feel like the best place to stick as a quarterback in the NFL is as a first or second-round pick in the NFL draft. Going to Ohio State gives me a chance to make a jump and leap into that conversation.”
Howard is the second transfer addition by Ohio State this offseason, joining former Ohio University tight end Will Kacmarek, who announced his commitment to the Buckeyes on Dec. 31.
