Ohio State quarterback Will Howard is raising eyebrows with his recent surprising assertion. He’s confident that he will be considered the top quarterback in what is projected to be a loaded 2025 NFL draft class. Though people may feel the 2023 quarterback class is underwhelming to say the least, Howard is a name to know. His journey from Kansas State to Ohio State has been marked by resilience and determination, which he believes will serve him well as he contemplates his future in professional football.
Howard’s potential as a top quarterback comes at a time when draft analysts, including ESPN’s Matt Miller, project high demand for quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL draft. Howard was on the opposite end of a very interesting conundrum. He has the misfortune of being in incredibly deep, talented competition in a shallow class. Though many of those prospects might be seen as having more glamorous futures, Howard’s confidence in his talent is not easily rattled.
Once he arrived at Ohio State, Howard got an intriguing text message that really got him thinking. The Buckeyes had an incredible 2023 season, finishing the year as the No. 1 ranked team in the country. In that important late season game, Howard was 18 for 32 passing. His pair of touchdowns helped spark his team’s thrilling 31-28 overtime comeback win. He was pushed extremely hard by Kyle McCord, the other Ohio State quarterback. McCord put up better numbers in that same year.
That competitive spirit, as well as Howard’s promise, was noticed by one of the best in the business—Ohio State head coach Ryan Day. Day said the plus for Howard that separates him was his intelligence for the game.
“He’s bright. He could recall plays; he could verbalize what he had done in games. It was like talking to an NFL player.” – Ryan Day
Though he has achieved much, Howard’s journey has not been without difficulty. He remembers the torture of the national spotlight on his clock management by the time Oregon came to town. He describes that moment as a priceless learning opportunity. During one such reflection on this very type of adversity, he proclaimed,
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