COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio State coach Ryan Day named Will Howard the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback to start the 2024 season during Thursday’s news conference.
Howard, a senior a transfer from Kansas State, joined Ohio State in January.
“There was a lot of reasons why, but when I got to the end, it was more, ‘Why not?’ I just felt like this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up on,” Howard said after he made his decision.
Watch: Full news conference with coach Ryan Day
Day noted that through the course of nearly 30 practices, Howard had a clear edge.
“When you take the aggregate of all the numbers Will graded out significantly ahead of the other guys,” he said. “Will has really taken command of the offense. You feel it in the huddle, you feel his experience (and) he’s become both a threat with his legs and with his arm.”
Preseason camp has been ongoing for the Buckeyes since the beginning of August, and this is the first time Day will address the media since the release of the preseason Associated Press poll.
The Buckeyes will open their season Aug. 31 against Akron as the No. 2-ranked team in the country, with only Georgia ahead of them. With expectations high again for Day and his team, roster decisions will be key, at guard and linebacker, for example, but those decisions remain unknown.
Devin Brown, who started in last season’s Cotton Bowl, will serve as the backup QB and freshman Julian Sayin could also be in the mix.
“I know every one of them wants to be the starting quarterback but they’re not disappointed that it’s Will,” Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly said, “All of those guys did a really nice job…. Right now Will id just above those guys.”
The Akron game is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 31. The college football season begins next Saturday with Florida State meeting Georgia Tech in a “Week 0” game in Dublin, Ireland.