COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — It’s the soundbite that has set the tone for the week leading up to Ohio State’s showdown with Penn State. Quarterback Will Howard was asked how he feels heading to his home state to face the team he was once a fan of.

“I’m stoked. I’m stoked. I cannot wait. It’s going to be a homecoming for me. I grew up a Penn State fan. I wanted to go there my whole life,” Howard said after Saturday’s win over Nebraska. “They didn’t think I was good enough, but I guess we’ll see next week if I was.”

The Downingtown West graduate seemingly has something to prove as he gets ready for Saturday’s top-five matchup with the Nittany Lions.

And according to his high school coach, it’s a pressure-filled situation that he’s spent years preparing for.

Michael Milano spent 21 years at the helm of the Whippets. After retiring from the position in January, you can usually find him on the golf course. He said Howard was one of the best players he’s ever coached in his time at Downingtown West.

Growing up a Penn State fan

“Power Five scholarship players are few and far between. We’ve had a few. But he was the best athlete in the school from the time I met him,” Milano said. “Athletic, fast, strong. All those things. As soon as you meet him, everybody loves him. Humble and talented. Just a great mix of all those things.”

A multi-sport athlete, Howard excelled on the gridiron, throwing for 5,308 yards and 48 touchdowns with the Whippets. He had looks from multiple Power Five teams, including Rutgers, Minnesota and Maryland. But like many kids from Pennsylvania, Howard really wanted to play for Penn State.

“I’ve coached in Southeastern Pennsylvania as a head coach for 31 years, and I want to tell you, every kid I’ve ever coached would’ve dreamed of being a Penn State football player,” Milano said. “He was stung by it some.”

Injury changes Howard’s course

Just as he was getting heavily looked at by the Nittany Lions, Howard suffered an injury during the height of his recruitment period.

“He had his arm broken and required surgery about six games into his junior season and that certainly hurt the recruiting process a lot. It just did,” Milano said. “So is that why Penn State backed off? I’m not sure, I really don’t know.”

Eventually, Kansas State was on Howard’s radar. He received an offer from the Wildcats in April 2019 and then committed to the program two months later. In his four years with K-State, Howard set a career school record with 48 touchdown passes and tied the program’s season record with 23 touchdown passes in 2023. His time with the Wildcats included a Big 12 title in 2022.

A proud coach

Now, he’s looking to deliver more hardware with Ohio State. Through seven games, Howard has scored 17 total touchdowns, 13 of them through the air. He has a completion percentage that currently ranks third in the nation (74.0).

But with all that Howard’s accomplished in his college career, his high school coach has yet to see it in person. That changes when Milano goes to Penn State on Saturday.

“I’m about to see my first Power Five football game out at Ohio State this Saturday. I’ve never been to one. We’ve always been in season,” Milano said. “I’m just so proud of the kid. I keep using the word persevere. He’s persevered and it’s paid off for him and I’m really excited to go watch him play this Saturday.”

A win on Saturday over the team that passed on him would put the Buckeyes in the driver’s seat for an appearance in the Big Ten Championship game and boost hopes for a national title down the road.

It’s a pressure cooker that’s been years in the making for Howard.

“Do the math. I’m gonna say eight years. Every snap being evaluated and analyzed. He’s prepared for this,” Milano said. “He obviously is looking forward to the challenge and I’m excited to watch it unfold.”