New Ohio State quarterback Will Howard has turned disappointment into motivation, carrying a chip on his shoulder ever since his high school days in Pennsylvania. Once an exciting QB prospect with his dream school, Penn State, showing interest, things took a drastic turn when Howard suffered a wrist injury in a rivalry game. Suddenly, the calls stopped, and the Penn State offer faded. But for Howard, that setback only added fuel to his competitive fire. “I kind of stopped hearing from some people, especially Penn State… it kind of lit a fire under me,” he recently shared on Big Ten Football’s YouTube channel.
Now, each time Howard steps on the field, he’s not just playing for Ohio State—he’s out there to prove all those doubters wrong. After recovering, he initially found his way to Kansas State, where he didn’t just shine—he set a new school record for touchdowns. But when it was time to take his career to the next level, he entered the transfer portal, drawing interest from powerhouse programs like USC, Miami, and Ohio State. Once he started conversations with Ohio State’s head coach Ryan Day, it felt like destiny. “When I started talking to Coach Day and coming to play for the Buckeyes, it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” Howard explained.
Since joining Ohio State, Howard has been on a tear. He’s thrown for 1,248 yards and 12 touchdowns with an impressive QBR of 84.2. With an undefeated Buckeyes team and a high-stakes game against Oregon on the horizon, Howard has another chance to show Penn State what they missed out on. From sidelined recruit to starting quarterback for one of college football’s top programs, Howard’s story is a testament to resilience.
So, did Penn State make a colossal mistake by letting Howard slip through their fingers? Given his rapid rise and success with Ohio State, the answer might just be unfolding this season.
