You'll never guess where Ohio State QB Will Howard's accuracy compares to presumptive No. 1 overall pick
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard accomplished about as much as anyone could in 2024. Not only did he make college football history by leading his Buckeyes to the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff win, but he led the nation in key categories. No one had a higher completion rate, more passing yards, or touchdowns than […]
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard accomplished about as much as anyone could in 2024. Not only did he make college football history by leading his Buckeyes to the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff win, but he led the nation in key categories. No one had a higher completion rate, more passing yards, or touchdowns than Howard.
Despite that, Howard is regularly viewed as a late Day 2 to early Day 3 prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. When dissecting his game, his physical tools are referenced as a weakness because he doesn't have the strongest arm. That's a fair criticism, but Howard's accuracy was undeniable.
I recently wrote about how Howard is the third-most accurate quarterback in the 2025 class. That take surprised many because he finished above Cameron Ward, who is expected to go No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans.
"One of the big developments throughout the 2024 season was how Will Howard improved his NFL stock. While Howard looks like Josh Allen with his 6-foot-4, 235-pound frame, he doesn't possess the same arm strength. He has the ability to parlay his quick release, pre-snap reads, and accuracy under any circumstance into a viable skill set.
The lack of arm strength mainly shows on deep attempts, where analytics actually have Howard as an elite passer 20-plus yards downfield. As with Dillon Gabriel, though, the numbers aren't trustworthy here. Howard often puts too much air under the ball, and they sail, requiring his All-American-caliber receivers to make a play on it.
However, Howard is reliably accurate and precise in most other situations. His play under pressure is among the best in the class, and his ability to reset his eyes and feet on play-action attempts is elite. His high floor and accuracy should give Howard the chance to be an NFL starter at some point."
Jaxson Dart and Shedeur Sanders are the only players who had a better blend of accuracy analytics and physical trait evaluations. I hope Howard gets the chance to compete for a role early in his career because I think his accuracy and leadership are that of an NFL starter.
