Why Ohio State is 'nowhere near' naming a winner in QB competition

For the second straight offseason, the Ohio State Buckeyes are working on a quarterback competition. It’s a competition that, as spring practice continues, appears to be nowhere near ending.

While making an appearance on Andy Staples On3, Spencer Holbrook of Lettermen Row explained that both Will Howard and Devin Brown are playing well and he doesn’t think the team is anywhere near naming a winner in that competition.

“They had some really good moments on Saturday,” Holbrook said. “Devin Brown had one of the best throws of the day. He uncorked one between two defenders to Bryson Rodgers, an up-and-coming wide receiver, who ran for 70 yards and a touchdown. You’re also seeing the throw that he had to Jeremiah Smith. A little bit lofted up there, but Jeremiah is Jeremiah, and he’s gonna do that against any corner because he’s doing it against the best corner, possibly, in the Big Ten in Denzel Burke. Then, Caleb Downs is right there in coverage too. So, like these quarterbacks don’t have to be perfect.”

Devin Brown came to Ohio State as a high school recruit in the Class of 2022, where he was a five-star recruit, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. Then, Will Howard comes in as a transfer from Kansas State, where he was a successful starting quarterback who brings plenty of experience to the room in Columbus.

“But then you get Will Howard who is such a run threat. He’s not gonna wow you in seven-on-seven. He’s really not gonna wow you in light contact, 11-on-11. Where he’s going to make up for that, though, is when you get full contact, bringing him down is really difficult. Jim Knowles can probably even attest to that from his time in the Big 12. It is hard to bring down Will Howard and he just looks big out there.”

Even beyond Brown and Howard, Holbrook explained that this is a deep quarterback room, including players like Lincoln Kienholz and Julian Sayin.

“So, Devin Brown’s had his moments. He looks good. Will Howard’s had his moments. He looks good. Lincoln Kienholz has had some moments on Saturday that made you say, ‘Wow, he looks pretty good.’ Then, the freshman, Julian Sayin had a couple of the best throws of the day. Just an incredible, incredible talent there, but he’s a true freshman. So, you wonder if that’s gonna hit a wall at some point.”

Spencer Holbrook also emphasized that the quarterback situation at Ohio State this season feels different than last season.

“This quarterback room is in really good hands, and I think that as last year we were kind of debating, if you have two do you have none? Is Kyle McCord separating from Devin Brown? If he’s not, is that an indictment on McCord, or is that a good thing when you think about Devin Brown? Well, I think it could be a little bit of both. I think Devin Brown has taken another step forward and Will Howard has challenged him to do that, and I think it’s not a ‘if you have two you have none.’ It’s you have two really good options, and Ohio State could probably go with either of them and feel pretty confident.”

For now, though, Ohio State is still a long way from deciding who its quarterback is going to be, whether it’s Will Howard, Devin Brown, or someone else.

“I still feel at the end of the day, because of that 11-on-11 full contact edge that I think Will Howard has, I think that will end up prevailing. But, I’m nowhere near ready to declare a winner, and I know Ohio State’s not because Devin Brown has shown some really good things this spring.”