Disappointing NFL Draft intel led transfer QB to Ohio State

Howard threw for 2,643 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while rushing for 351 yards and an additional nine scores this season at Kansas State. 

While impressive in the context of playing Oklahoma State, Houston, Baylor and Oklahoma, those numbers don’t exactly scream “bonafide NFL QB prospect.” Had he entered this year’s draft, there’s a good chance that as many as 10 QBs would have their names called before Howard’s.

While many of the other top national championship-caliber programs like Oregon, Notre Dame, Florida State, LSU and Wisconsin had already plucked premium signal callers from the portal, Ohio State still had an opening after losing 2023 starter Kyle McCord to Syracuse.

As he was narrowing down his top choices, there were plenty of viable options on the table. But only the Buckeyes offered what Howard truly wanted: A place he could boost his draft stock while also competing for a national title.

“A lot of these other schools that I was looking at, these air raid type schools, have great offenses and I could put up a lot of numbers but I don’t know how much that would develop me for the NFL,” he added. “ … Coming here, we have all the talent in the world. I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a more talented roster in America right now than we have.”