COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Will Howard knew he had some things to work on he got to Ohio State in January after transferring from Kansas State, and that started with his physical makeup. He’d spent the last month sitting in the transfer portal weighing whether to come to Columbus or try his luck in the NFL Draft which resulted in him picking up some bad habits. He was out of shape, at least by the standard of the program he was trying to now lead.
“A little portal weight,” Howard said. “I believe I was 249 (pounds) when I got here (for) my first weigh-in. Now I’m around 233, 235.
” Latest Ohio State Buckeyes news Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown feeling more comfortable in similar position Ohio State has a freshman that’s already making its quarterback battle interesting Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly updates status of quarterback competition Netflix releases trailer for Connor Stalions’ tell-all regarding Michigan scandal: Buckeye Breakfast Howard says he feels like a real adult now. He lives alone, makes home-cooked meals and lives a healthier all-around lifestyle. And he’s seeing how that’s impacting him as an athlete as one of the many upgrades he’s experienced since arriving.
“It is significant and I can feel it day-to-day,” Howard — who offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said clocked a speed of 22 miles per hour — said. “I can feel it in the pocket and definitely straight-ahead running.” That was put on display during OSUs fourth preseason practice when Howard broke off an impressive 85-yard touchdown run that he even admitted was ‘he felt fast’ on.
All of it is courtesy of the nine months he spent working with strength coach Mickey Marotti and nutritionist Kaila Olsen to create the best version of him. Something he was probably never going to get at Kansas State. It’s not slight to the Wildcats, it’s just a notable difference in programs that don’t operate at the same level.
On the field he has weapons at both running back and wide receiver he could’ve never dreamed of getting in Manhattan, Kansas. The coaching is miles ahead of what he’d gotten for the last four years simply because the names in charge of his development have established reputations for developing NFL quarterbacks. “I’m getting a deeper level of coach than I ever have before,” Howard said.
“I have a deeper understanding of the offense and what the defense is doing. ..
.Everything’s just been faster.” Step One of Howard’s time here was building him into someone capable of driving the luxury car whoever wins the starting job will get the keys to.
Then came time to figure out if what they built could get behind the wheel. That process was just as grueling as the first for a player who understood that his first as a transfer would be much different than his first spring as an early enrolling freshman. Howard had a lot to learn, and not a lot of time to learn it.
“In the spring I was at the beginning at least drinking through a fire hose a little bit especially with the way the offense was installed,” Howard said. “I think that was good for me. Learning how to go through a couple of practices without having any prior experience with an offense and going through that.
The struggles that I had, the things that I learned from, I feel like I really started to settle in kind of like practice seven, practice eight of the spring. “I was like, ‘OK, this is really making sense. I’m starting to get my stride.
’ Coming into fall camp it’s been completely different with the amount of banked reps. You can’t replicate actually doing it. The only way to do it is to do it.
Having these reps from the spring banked and all these things that I’ve learned it’s helped me a lot in fall camp to go out there and play more rather than think about things.” Howard had nine months to figure things out. But he knew that when he chose OSU.
He wanted to learn how to be a pro and with that comes developing the ability to learn things on the fly. This offseason has been the ultimate way for him to find out how quickly he can process information and be ready to apply it. That’s an everyday occurrence at the level he’s trying to get to.
“The way I looked at it is if my goal is ultimately to make it to the NFL this is what I’m gonna have to do iat the next level,” Howard said. “It was a really good opportunity for me to learn how to learn fast and how to pick things up. Coach (Ryan) Day and Coach (Chip) Kelly have done a really good job of making things easy to understand and easy to pick up.
The more reps I’ve gotten the more comfortable I’ve become. “It’s been great. The more I throw to these receivers and get around these guys, the more we’re coming together and becoming a team.
It’s been cool to see.” Now comes the most important step in solidifying the job you came here to claim. There’s been early signs of him making that happen, but there’s still more to do.
That comes with understanding what’s required to make that happen. “I’ve done a good job protecting the football and being smart with my decisions,” Howard said. “I want to continue to push the ball down the field when I have opportunities to & be accurate down the field.
Get some more air on my deep balls.” That’s the small details of how he can maximize this offense. He gives the Buckeye a running threat at quarterback again and if he can become a threat in the vertical passing game it can open up all the possibilities for this offense.
Howard is right on schedule. He spent the spring figuring out a new home and system then showed up ready to put those lessons to work in the fall. In doing so he might be planting a flag in the quarterback battle even if no one is ready to openly talk about it .
He spent the summer months growing into a leadership role organizing throwing sessions and team outings to build chemistry emphasizing once again his need to do so at a sped-up pace. He’s got one year left of college football and joined a team with a lot riding on it maximizing its potential. “One of the bigger things is what are we doing as a team,” Howard said.
“I’m thinking about myself and how I can be better. But the bigger thing is how can we be better as a team and how can I facilitate that being the quarterback? “Doing things like that is something I want to continue to grow in for my team because at the end of the day, 11 guys have to do their job every single play and being the quarterback, you have to facilitate that a little bit and help those guys and make sure that we’re being the best team.” He came here thinking Ohio State could make him something more.
Ohio State took him thinking he could be more. So far it looks like both sides could be right. He might not officially be the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback yet.
But he sure is starting to walk and like he is. That’s a good sign for what happens next. “I’m just trying to be the best version of myself every single day,” Howard said.
“That’s all I’m trying to do. Whenever I get thrown in there I’m gonna make the best of my reps. Show this team I’m gonna fight for them and do everything we need to do to win.
That’s all that matters to me, being the best teammate I can be.” If you or a loved one has questions and needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or the National Council on Program Gambling Helpline (NCPG) at 1-800-522-4700 or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.
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