Ryan Day on naming Will Howard starting QB: 'I think it was clear'

As either acting or full-time head coach, Ryan Day’s never named an Ohio State starting quarterback earlier than he did this year: Aug. 15. That’s when he officially announced Kansas State graduate transfer Will Howard as the Buckeyes’ QB1.

Unlike last year, when a longstanding competition between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown seesawed late in training camp, this year’s quarterback battle, mainly between Howard and Brown, wasn’t particularly close.

Thursday on ESPN’s “Always College Football with Greg McElroy,” Day explained his thought process when making the starting quarterback decision this time around.

“I think the thing that you have to do as the head coach is you got to get a feel for the locker room,” Day said. “You can’t fool those guys. First off, if you name somebody, and half the locker room doesn’t think that’s the right thing to do, you can create a little bit of an issue there. And usually it gets worked out, but they’re counting on you to make the right decision.

“I think it was clear. There was a little 10-day stretch there where he took control the offense and had a strong presence with the team.”

Howard attacked the summer, notably dropping from 249 to approximately 233 pounds. He sat down with the program’s sports dietitian, Kaila Olson, to come up with a new nutrition plan ahead of a pivotal 2024 campaign and took the field Aug. 1 looking like a leaner and even more confident version of his 6-foot-4 self.

Already a dual threat at Kansas State, Howard was clocked as the fastest player in the five-man Ohio State quarterback room this offseason. To be more exact, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chip Kelly said he believes the fifth-year signal caller clocked in at 22.1 miles per hour.

What’s more, Howard’s been putting more zip and accuracy on his passes than he did in the spring — all while limiting turnovers.

“It’s a combination of his feet, his experience, his size, his accuracy, his ability to throw the ball,” Day told McElroy Thursday, when discussing why Howard has the keys to the Ohio State offense. “I mean, all the above. That’s been exciting for us, and it’s fun for him because he does have some weapons to work with, and he’s got a good group around him.

“So, are we asking to make extraordinary plays? No, we’re asking him to play really, really sound, fundamental football on first and second down. The term I use is ‘make the routine plays routinely,’ take care of the football, but then play good on third down, red zone and [in] two-minute [drills] because that’s where quarterbacks are judged.”

Howard made 27 starts in four years at Kansas State. He won a Big 12 title in 2022 and is coming off a 2023 season in which he totaled 33 touchdowns.

Just because Day isn’t asking Howard to be consistently extraordinary doesn’t mean he can’t deliver when the Buckeyes need to count on him to take control of the game. Ohio State drills its players on situational football repeatedly, especially its quarterbacks.

“I like to do that 2nd-and-long period,” Day said before continuing, “red zone, 3rd-and-9 on the 9[-yard line], blitz period. Blitz period’s big — you know, blitzing every time and just trying to get guys in his face.

“But I think it’s the two-minute [drills] — down a score when you got 50 seconds, and you got to get in the end zone on your own 30. The harder the situation, the better. Backed up is big, but I think it’s the poise. That’s what I see. I see poise in the pocket. I see strength in the pocket. And that’s something that’s very difficult to coach. Guys, they’re not going to see the rush. They can’t be looking at the rush, but they got to feel it. And he does feel it. He’s strong in there.”

Howard was the favorite to start at quarterback as soon as he transferred in back in January. He still had to win the job, though. After an up-and-down spring, Howard seized the role of QB1 in training camp.