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Two more Buckeyes, Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith, checked in at No. 11.On one hand, the job of Ohio State starting quarterback is one of the easiest in the sport. You're going to be throwing to a countless array of five-star receivers, and in most years, you're going to be handing the game to any number of dominant running backs. You're going to score loads of points, and you're probably going to win at least 11 games. (The last full season that didn't produce at least 11 Buckeye wins: 2011.)
On the other hand, the bar is so high that Mondo Duplantis couldn't clear it in the pole vault. Any loss is a catastrophe. A loss to Michigan is apocalyptic. Last year's starter, Kyle McCord, completed 66% of his passes, averaged nearly 14 yards per completion, threw four touchdowns for every interception and finished the season seventh in Total QBR. But he short-armed a couple of throws in a loss to Michigan and was therefore labeled an epic failure before transferring to Syracuse.
Will Howard ranked 23rd in Total QBR last season. He obviously wasn't throwing to Ohio State's receivers, but K-State's skill corps wasn't exactly chopped liver, and he finished the season with a lower completion rate (61% vs. McCord's 66%), fewer yards per completion (12.1 vs. 13.8), a higher interception rate (2.8% vs. 1.7%) and a lower success rate (47% vs. 49%). He's better in the run game, and he could end up forming a devastating connection with Emeka Egbuka and company. But there's no guarantee that he ends up better than McCord, and if he doesn't, Ohio State might not reach the promised land. Even with a pretty easy job, he is the most important player in the country in 2024.
"I think Howard is the vanilla Cam Newton," Lord please don't let his closet resemble that.
I think the taller, faster JT Barrett is the best comp.
Shiiiittt. Joseph Thomas Barrett was 4-0 against tcun as a starter. Broke his leg in one of those efforts and won an OT clash on his back. We don't need a superstar this year, those are the youngsters on the bench and in the classes coming next. Give me a Krenzel/Barrett mashup this year and add to that case at The Woody!I hope a taller, faster JTB isn't what we get and I don't expect to. JT was an all-timer, but was a liability as a passer and we only hit that next level with Day's offense with Haskins, followed by Fields and Stroud. I'd go with the aspirational characterization of Fields, maybe not as good a runner, but a better passer. That puts us in the final game.