Ohio State Buckeyes Make Final Call on Starting Quarterback Decision

The Ohio State Buckeyes have officially named Will Howard their starting quarterback for the 2024 season.

Head coach Ryan Day announced the decision following Thursday's practice, confirming that Howard will take the field as QB1 when the Buckeyes open their season against the Akron Zips.

“Will Howard will start the first game against Akron,” Day told reporters . “He is our starting quarterback. I think that Chip [Kelly] has done a great job of rolling the quarterbacks from the first day of spring all the way to now. ... When you take the aggregate of all the numbers, Will graded out significantly ahead of the other guys.”

Howard joined the Ohio State football program after four seasons at Kansas State, where he played in 34 games and threw for 5,786 yards, 48 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions. In addition to his arm, Howard posed a legitimate threat with his legs, rushing for 921 yards and 19 touchdowns during his time with the Wildcats.

After last season’s starter, Kyle McCord, entered the transfer portal, Howard transferred to Ohio State and quickly found himself in a quarterback battle against Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz, and two highly-touted incoming freshmen, Air Noland and Julian Sayin.

The Buckeyes enter the 2024 season with national title aspirations, and their coaching staff feels confident that Howard has the necessary tools to execute their high-powered offense.

With Howard’s experience, athleticism, and leadership qualities, Ohio State is hoping that his presence under center will keep them in the hunt for another Big Ten title and a potential playoff run.

Related: Phil Longo Pushes Back on ‘Prototypical Pocket QB’ Label for Tyler Van Dyke

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