Ohio Stat’s new transfer QB ready for Michigan rivalry: ‘That’s the Team Up North now’…
Former
quarterback Will Howard verbally committed to Ryan Day and the Buckeyes, he announced on social media on Thursday.
Howard, a senior who has started games in each of the last two seasons, was one of the top quarterbacks available in the transfer portal. A dual threat player, he led Kansas State to the Big 12 title in 2022 and went 12-5 as the Wildcats’ starter.
Howard’s imminent arrival in Columbus comes as pressure on the program and head coach Ryan Day is at its highest level since Day got the job fulltime in 2019.
And Howard, who is already referring to the maize and blue as the “Team Up North,” is embracing that.
“We definitely talked about that,” he told ESPN in reference to the Buckeyes’ 3-game losing streak against the Wolverines. “That game means so much. The pressure is on. Beating that Team Up North is priority No. 1 on the way to the national championship and all our other goals. That’s huge, and it’s everything when it comes to playing for Ohio State.
“I know the implications and what it means to the fan base and everyone in the program. That’s the Team Up North now.”
Howard chose Ohio State after visiting both Miami and USC. He also looked at heading to the NFL.
In his career, Howard has started 27 games and thrown for 48 touchdowns and 5,786 yards while also rushing for 921 career yards and 19 touchdowns. He completed 61.3% of his passes with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2023 to earn second-team All-Big 12 honors.
Howard will enter the 2024 season as the presumed starter in Columbus after 2023 starter Kyle McCord transferred to Syracuse. Devin Brown, who started Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl loss to Missouri but left in he first quarter with injury, is also on the roster.
As is Lincoln Kienholz, a freshman who replaced Brown but looked overmatched for much of the game. Five-star freshman Air Noland is expected to enroll this month.
Ohio State opens the 2024 season vs. Akron on Aug. 31.
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