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QB1 Will Howard (National Champion)

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Will finished the 2024 season:

3rd in the nation in passing efficiency at 175.26
4th in the nation in passing TDs with 35
4th in the nation in points responsible for with 252
6th in the national in passing yards with 4,010

And I think he’s fine that his only hardware for the season was the Cotton Bowl and Title Game Offensive MVPs, and a ring.
 
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BuckeyeNation27 said:
Is it ok that I want to go camp out in Downingtown until I see him so I can give him a hug and tell him I love him?
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RB07OSU said:
I've been wrong plenty of times but even coming in I thought Howard was a marked upgrade at QB, especially in a senior-laden team. I trusted his experience and definitely liked that he could move the chains with his legs.

What I didn't know is how great of a leader and game manager he is. I don't think there is any chance we win the Natty without swapping Howard for McCord. So the report card definitely reads that he exceeded expectations even for the hopeful fans like me.

In terms of his pro career, I just hope he lands on the right team no matter how high he gets drafted because I have no doubt he can be a very good pro QB in the right system. That's true of most QBs, but I just want him to have every chance to succeed...he has earned it. I will have nothing but fond memories every time I think of Will, we were very fortunate to have him and I just wish we could have him for one more year.
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Just sayin': Yeah, I agree; Ohio State wouldn't have won the Natty without swapping out McCord for Howard. Whatever NIL deals Howard got (like the one below) he was definitely worth the price.

scarletandgame.com

Will Howard reveals the inside story behind Ohio State's title-clinching play

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard revealed the thought process behind the 56-yard pass to Jeremiah Smith that sealed a National Championship win for his team.
scarletandgame.com scarletandgame.com

Will Howard reveals the inside story behind Ohio State's title-clinching play​

Howard knew he was throwing to Jeremiah Smith.

images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F151%2F01jk9ge2df2g845pw70q.jpg


Will Howard knew exactly where the ball was going. With his Ohio State Buckeyes just minutes away from a National Championship and football immortality, Howard had one thought in his mind.

"That ball was going to No. 4, man," Howard told reporters at a local Raising Cane's in Columbus last month. Howard and Ohio State teammate Jack Sawyer joined forces with Raising Cane's to work an honorary "shift" as they greeted fans and celebrated their national title victory.

Howard had a smile on his face as he discussed the story behind the 56-yard pass to star wideout Jeremiah Smith that would essentially seal Ohio State's first national title in a decade.

"I look out there, I see 1-on-1, he's off inside leverage. J.J. attacked his leverage, really stacked him. That play's going to be talked about for a long time here in Ohio State history."
Will Howard
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The Buckeyes led 31-23 with a little over two minutes to play. Ohio State was in the process of staving off a potential Notre Dame comeback and faced a critical 3rd-and-11 from their own 34-yard line.

That's when Howard identified Smith in 1-on-1 coverage and heaved a ball downfield into the awaiting arms of his superstar freshman receiver. It's a play that will go down in Ohio State football history — and it's one that everyone on the Buckeyes sideline knew was coming.

Will Howard knew he was throwing to Jeremiah Smith in Ohio State's National Championship-sealing play​

Howard went into further detail about how head coach Ryan Day and now-former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly game-planned for a situation like this leading into the week.

The Kansas State transfer emphasized that Ohio State knew Notre Dame expected them to run the ball and drain the clock. The Buckeyes could've played it safe and relied on their defense to get a stop. Instead, they went for the kill shot.

"I knew that going into that play, they were probably expecting us to run the ball, try and take some seconds off the clock," Howard said. "We could have been conservative and ran the ball and given them the ball back with a little bit over two minutes left in the game, but I love the play call from Coach Day and Coach Kelly."

Howard went on to explain that his team knew the Notre Dame defense was vulnerable to the deep pass in situations like this one. With Notre Dame crowding the box, anticipating a run, Day and Kelly recognized a mismatch they could exploit.

Of course, it also helps that they had someone like Smith to lean on. Howard credited his young wide receiver for the play, calling him both "an alien" and "unreal."

"We worked that all week and said, on some 3rd-and-extra long stuff, if they were going to give us that opportunity, they could be beat on some go-balls. And when it comes to go-balls, there ain't nobody better than No. 4. Just let him go out there and do his thing, put some air on it, and let him go catch."
Will Howard
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As Howard let the ball fly, he knew this was more than just a pass — it was a statement. The entire season, the hours of preparation, and the trust in his teammates had come down to this one moment.
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www.elevenwarriors.com

Skull Session: Ryan Day Names His Favorite Moments of 2024, Maurice Clarett Offers Advice to Jeremiah Smith and ESPN Calls Ethan Onianwa Ohio State’s Best Transfer Addition

Ryan Day names his favorite moments of 2024, Maurice Clarett offers advice to Jeremiah Smith and ESPN calls Ethan Onianwa Ohio State's best transfer addition.
www.elevenwarriors.com www.elevenwarriors.com

I'LL TAKE THE LOT. In hot pursuit of #content to end the Skull Session, I stumbled across an Etsy page called CodeyDraws.

What does Codey draw?

Well, lots of stuff...

... including, but not limited to, Jack Sawyer's scoop-and-score in the Cotton Bowl and Smith's 56-yard catch in the national championship game.

Check this out:

Jeremiah%20Smith%20%281%29_0.jpg
 
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