Chris Klieman: Kansas State 'knows' Will Howard can win Big 12 Championship

Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman is quite confident in quarterback Will Howard. It seems like the whole team is behind Howard and the fact he can win a Big 12 Championship.

The defending conference champions have him under center full-time now. There was some back-and-forth between Adrian Martinez and Howard last season. But going into 2023, Howard is a new version, a better version.

“Confidence, belief,” Klieman said of Howard. “Those are the two things I think of when I think of Will Howard. He’s had an incredible journey at Kansas State, and he’s had some ups and downs. But he’s always weathered the storm. He’s always bet on himself and believed in himself.

“Most importantly, I would tell you as we come into fall camp, the whole football team believes in Will Howard. The whole football team knows that you can win a Big 12 Championship with Will Howard at quarterback.”

Heck, Kansas State did it last season with Howard. He tossed two touchdowns in a win over TCU.

In seven games last season, Howard finished with 1,633 yards, 15 touchdowns, four interceptions and a 59.8% completion percentage. He added three touchdowns on the ground. In three seasons (21 games), Howard has 3,143 yards, 24 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, a 56.6% completion percentage, 570 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.

“I’ve just marveled at how he attacks his craft,” Klieman said. “He’s always watching film. He’s always breaking things down, he’s always being a servant leader, which is very unselfish. He is meeting with tight ends, meeting with running backs, and just sharing his knowledge of football.

And then he continues to work on his physical traits. He’s leaner this year. He’s stronger. I know that he’s worked on some mechanical things.

“I think this is the best we’re going to see — we’re going to see Will Howard’s best year this year without question, and I thought the last half of the season last year he was probably the most improved player in all of college football, at least in the Big 12.”

As a member of the Class of 2020, Howard was a three-star recruit out of Downingtown (Pa.) West, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 10 overall prospect in the state, the No. 64 quarterback in the class and the No. 959 overall prospect in the class.