“I am my very own largest critic, so I really feel like there have been some issues I might clear up,” Howard instructed NFL Community. “Total, I believe I confirmed that I can spin the ball with one of the best. And, you already know, I felt good about it. And I believe my footwork was fairly stable.”
As Sanders talked about, Howard was not throwing to his standard receivers. Howard’s high goal in 2024 was Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State’s all-time profession receptions chief. Egbuka, a possible first-round decide, opted out of the drills on the mix.
Freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith led the Buckeyes in receiving yards (1,315) and landing catches (15) on his approach to a record-setting marketing campaign. Smith, clearly, is not going to be eligible to enter the draft for 2 extra years.
Howard, who transferred to Ohio State final yr, benefited from having high-caliber receivers in his one season because the starter. However he additionally made big-time throws, such because the title-sealing play to Smith within the nationwide championship sport, a 56-yard bomb on third-and-11 that hit his receiver in excellent stride.
That very same night time, Howard accomplished a School Soccer Playoff Championship record of 13 consecutive passes and was named the MVP with his strong overall outing (17-of-21 passing for 231 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions).
It wasn’t simply what Howard did after the ball was snapped that mattered. As Ohio State coach Ryan Day instructed FOX Sports activities’ lead school soccer sport analyst Joel Klatt, “We had such an amazing chief in Will. He was trying these guys within the eye, they usually had been breaking the huddle, they usually believed in him once they huddle.”
Howard performed his greatest soccer of the season through the Buckeyes’ playoff run. In 4 video games, he accomplished 75.2 % of his passes for 1,150 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions whereas registering a 184.4 passer ranking.
“You activate the movie within the playoffs, man, and it is actually good,” Klatt mentioned. “He is obtained nice command of what is going on on.”
Jalen Milroe & Will Howard in Joel Klatt’s High 5 QB’s within the 2025 NFL Draft | Joel Klatt Present
Klatt ranked Howard as his No. 5 quarterback on this draft class.
Howard is not anticipated to be a high decide. Sanders, together with Miami product Cam Ward, will seemingly be one of many first two quarterbacks drafted. Different passers, equivalent to Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart and Texas product Quinn Ewers, improved their draft inventory with promising showings on the mix.
However Howard will get drafted. His tape, conferences with groups and upcoming professional day are different methods he can put himself on the radar of a franchise looking for depth at its quarterback place.
“I believe he’ll get extra constructive critiques as we get nearer to the draft as he performed his greatest soccer when it mattered most,” Klatt added.
The mix shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all of the draft course of. In any other case, a prospect like Sanders would have participated alongside his fellow quarterbacks quite than simply defending them after.
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