Ohio State and quarterback Kyle McCord parted ways shortly after their loss to the Michigan Wolverines in the final week of the regular season, but the Buckeyes may be on the brink of securing their signal-caller for 2024 in former Kansas State QB Will Howard.
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Sources: Kansas State transfer quarterback Will Howard will take an official visit to Ohio State in the upcoming days, a sign of mutual interest between the parties. He’s visited both Miami and USC and is also considering the NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/C50t4K9yGw
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 3, 2024
According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, former Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Will Howard will make an official visit there "in the upcoming days."
This comes after he's visited Miami and USC, indicating mutual interest, as Thamel notes.
The Buckeyes turned their offense over to a quarterback combination of Devin Brown and Lincoln Kienholz in their Cotton Bowl matchup against Missouri but lost 14-3. Kienholz and Brown combined for 10 completions on 23 passes for 106 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions.
So, the answer for their next quarterback isn't on the current roster. This past season, Howard completed 218 of 358 passes (60.9%) for 2,630 yards, 23 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and added 427 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He's a dual threat somewhat reminiscent of Ohio State quarterbacks in the past but on varying levels. C.J. Stroud could run but often didn't, whereas Justin Fields was an incredible rushing threat whose passing was almost secondary. Howard falls somewhere in the middle.
In 2023, McCord completed 229 of 354 passes (64.7%) for 3,169 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. He had just 37 rushing yards and no touchdowns. Of course, he also had receivers Julian Fleming, Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. at his disposal.
Howard could be the next Buckeye quarterback, could land with USC or Miami, or even head to the NFL.
In his career at Kansas State, which started in 2020, Howard had completed 58.4% of his passes for 5,773 passing yards, 47 touchdowns and 25 interceptions, plus rushed for 1,108 yards and 19 touchdowns.
The Wildcats went 8-4 in the Big 12 and defeated North Carolina State 28-19 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Howard didn't play in the game.
Now we wait for Howard's decision. He has at least four options. Will Ryan Day lock up his next man under center? We'll see.
