Ohio State HC thinks locker room expected starting QB decision

It's now official. Will Howard will no longer be known as just the Kansas State transfer quarterback in Columbus.

He'll be known as Ohio State's starting quarterback after the announcement that he's beaten out the rest of the competition in fall camp.

“Will Howard will start the first game against Akron,” head coach Ryan Day said after practice on Thursday (h/t On3 ). “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. I think we’re 12 or 13 practices in here. So, we’re talking 27, 28 practices and when you take the aggregate of all the numbers, Will graded out significantly ahead of the other guys.”

It was always somewhat of a foregone conclusion that Howard would end up being the guy. His four seasons of experience at K-State made him the most seasoned quarterback in the locker room. He also has the blend of arm talent and leg talent that has been dangerous in offensive coordinator Chip Kelly's offense in the past.

Still, Day had committed to having a quarterback competition, and part of that is because he didn't seem to think that the eventual announcement of Howard as the starter would rock the boat all that much in the locker room.

“I think that when it’s really, really close, and the locker room’s divided, it’s a little bit different,” Day explained (h/t On3 ). “I don’t know if that’s the situation here.

“I think right now the team feels Will and feels his presence. So I don’t think it’s going to be huge news to the locker room. I think they see it."

Howard threw for 2,643 yards and 24 touchdowns last season at Kansas State with 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 351 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.

OSU brought him in to be the "super senior" leader who could get its offense back over the top, and so far he's living up to the billing.