Ohio State QB Will Howard reveals how controversial NFL Hall of Famer changed his approach to football
Will Howard once again delivered an impressive performance as Ohio State faced the 10-0 Indiana Hoosiers. The Buckeyes quarterback completed 22 of his 26 passes for 201 yards, throwing two touchdowns and one interception, leading to a decisive 38-15 victory over the Hoosiers. Since transferring from Kansas State, Howard has consistently improved and become an […]
Will Howard once again delivered an impressive performance as Ohio State faced the 10-0 Indiana Hoosiers. The Buckeyes quarterback completed 22 of his 26 passes for 201 yards, throwing two touchdowns and one interception, leading to a decisive 38-15 victory over the Hoosiers.
Since transferring from Kansas State, Howard has consistently improved and become an essential player for Ryan Day’s squad.
On Sunday, November 24, Howard opened up about his early struggles on the ‘Zen Game’ podcast. The 23-year-old talked about the he felt bogged down by his own success with Kansas State.
“You know it’s crazy because then you’re feeling like you’re flying high, and you’re the guy man, and everyone’s says, ‘You’re great.’ You know for me I was like ‘oh I’ve made it.’ I finally made it through all that shit I went through; man, like all the stuff that, it weighed on me. I was ready to freaking hang up the cleats like I I didn’t know if I love the game anymore.”
“This is why I trusted God this long, why I prayed, why I kept working. This is why. Then you know going into my senior year it was like all right you know let’s ball out have a good year and go to the NFL and you know you go through that year and first couple games you know I’m turning the ball over a little bit too much you know we got a stud kid Avery and they wanted him to come in and run the ball a little bit and you know I start you know kind of having some struggles again and it’s like man like it it kind of taught me like you’ve never made it.”
“It gets real loud, and you know people are, you know, going to say what they want to say, but you know, if you’re a process-based person and you truly have confidence in yourself, then the the things that people say about you then they don’t matter as much you know. Aaron Rogers said you know on a podcast I think it was Rogan’s podcast you know ‘don’t listen to people you wouldn’t take advice from’ and you know like that kind of struck me a little bit I was like man like you know why am I listening to these people if I wouldn’t take advice from them,” Howard recalled.
Howard reflected on how, after moving to Ohio State, he had to deal with the external scrutiny regarding the conclusion of his time at Kansas State. It was during these challenging moments that he stumbled upon Rodgers’ advice in a podcast, which helped him reaffirm his commitment to ignoring the criticism.
This advice didn’t just change his mindset; it changed how he approached football. “It taught me to be more grounded,” Howard said. “If you’re a process-based person like, you’re not going to worry about the results as much and you’re not going to worry about what other people have to say about you. Why would I listen to what someone else is saying about me? Like why would I if I know who I am? Why would I have to hear someone else tell me that? You know, like it’s all based on intrinsic confidence and believing in yourself.”
With that perspective, Will Howard was rejuvenated—more focused, resilient, and poised to elevate his stock for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Ohio State QB Will Howard named as a 2025 NFL Draft riser after picking Indiana apart
The 2025 NFL Draft is nowhere near a priority for the Ohio State Buckeyes and their fans right now, but that doesn't mean the league isn't watching carefully. The Buckeyes destroyed the No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday, capping off their efforts with one final score in the waning moments to make it a 38-15 […]
Fast forward to the current season, and Ohio State is enjoying a solid standing at No. 2 in the AP Poll with a 10-1 record. Their only setback? A heartbreaking one-point loss to Oregon, 32-31.
This game was not just close—it was a nail-biter that had Buckeyes fans on edge. As for Howard, he excelled, completing 28 of 35 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns. Despite the loss, Buckeyes QB1 played with tremendous heart.
This season, Will Howard's performance has been exceptional. He has thrown for over 2,600 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. Such statistics are bound to attract NFL scouts.
Of course, he has impressive targets in Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith at wide receiver, alongside a formidable set of running backs, making the Buckeyes’ offense the most dominant in the nation.
But it's not just about the stats—it's about how he executes the game. Howard's throws are sharp, his confidence soaring, and physically, he’s in peak condition.
