Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) takes a snap during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Michigan won 13-10.
Will Howard QB Ohio State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Will Howard QB Ohio State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| PLAY STYLE: Mobile Pocket Passer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/11/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.85 seconds (45%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PLAY STYLE: Mobile Pocket Passer | |
| Last Updated: 03/11/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.85 seconds (45%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 83.7 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Release Speed: |
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87% |
| Short Passing: |
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80% |
| Medium Passing: |
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87% |
| Long Passing: |
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97% |
| Rush/Scramble: |
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70% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#103
Position rank:
#7
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| College Games: 46 College Snaps: 2578 | ||
ESPN RATING: 76/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 88/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.5 (90%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
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| Will Levis - Kentucky |
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68% |
| Carson Strong - Nevada |
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63% |
| Kyle Trask - Florida |
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63% |
Draft Profile: Bio
A battle-tested signal-caller who took the long road to prominence, Will Howard's journey from Pennsylvania prep star to Kansas State stalwart to Ohio State national champion represents one of college football's most intriguing developmental arcs. The Downingtown native first made his mark as a dual-threat talent, earning Maxwell Football Club Pennsylvania Player of the Year honors while also excelling on the hardwood with over 1,000 career points. After early struggles as an spot starter for the Wildcats, Howard emerged as a force in 2022, leading K-State to a Big 12 title while setting the school record with 48 career touchdown passes.Howard's transfer to Ohio State for his final season proved transformative. Taking the reins of Ryan Day's sophisticated passing attack, he elevated his game to new heights, completing 73% of his passes for 4,010 yards while leading the Buckeyes to a national championship. His masterful playoff run included a Rose Bowl clinic against Oregon (319 yards, 3 TDs) and a near-perfect title game performance where he completed his first 13 passes. The dramatic improvement in accuracy and decision-making during his lone season in Columbus opened eyes across the NFL scouting community.
Beyond the statistics, Howard's collegiate career tells a story of persistence and growth. From completing under 55% of his passes in his first two seasons to orchestrating game-winning drives in the College Football Playoff, his development curve trends sharply upward. While his age (24 as a rookie) raises some eyebrows, his experience in multiple offensive systems and proven ability to elevate his game in high-pressure situations adds valuable context to his evaluation.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Natural torque generator with plus arm strength - drives balls with zip on intermediate routes when mechanics are clean, putting extra mustard on sideline throws
- Advanced processor in play-action game - consistently manipulates second-level defenders with eye movement and pump fakes to create throwing windows
- Comfortable operating under center with crisp footwork in 3, 5, and 7-step drops - rare trait in modern college quarterbacks
- Plus size/mass combination allows him to extend plays through contact - shrugs off arm tackles while keeping eyes downfield
- Shows anticipatory traits against zone coverage - releases ball before receivers break, particularly effective on deep crossers
- Quick mental processing pre-snap - identifies defensive structures and adjusts protections with veteran savvy
- Flashes touch on vertical throws - displayed improved deep ball accuracy during playoff run at Ohio State
- Deceptive athleticism for frame size - can stress edges on designed runs and scrambles when plays break down
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Awful combine performance exposed mechanical flaws – timing disconnects with unfamiliar receivers highlighted inconsistent release points and ball placement issues.
- Mechanical inconsistency leads to sporadic ball placement - weight transfer issues crop up under pressure, especially when forced off platform
- Limited creative instincts when primary reads are covered - tends to lock onto first option rather than working through progressions
- Hip tightness impacts ability to reset throwing base when moving in pocket - accuracy suffers when forced to change arm angles
- Processing speed noticeably dips against complex pressure packages - struggles identifying late rotations and exotic blitzes
- Age-adjusted profile (24 as rookie) suggests limited developmental runway compared to younger prospects in class
Scouting Report: Summary
Howard's arm talent pops off the screen when he's in rhythm, and you love seeing a quarterback who looks natural under center in today's shotgun-heavy college game. Sure, the Ohio State system gave him plenty of layups, but watch that national championship performance again. The way he manipulated safeties and dropped dimes under pressure showed a quarterback who's more than just a product of his surroundings. That disastrous combine showing with late throws and overthrows will ding his stock some, but there's still meat left on the bone with his development, and that's what makes him such an intriguing day-two prospect.Give me a quarterback room with an established vet and a patient offensive staff, and I'll show you Howard's ideal landing spot. The footwork needs cleaning up and he's got to get faster working through his reads, but the raw clay is there to mold. When this kid's mechanics are right, he can make every throw in the book with some serious juice. The combine exposed some technical issues that need addressing, but the championship pedigree and pro-style background still give you a foundation you can work with.
Look, we're talking about a guy who got better every time he stepped on the field in Columbus. The age factor means you need to see results within three years, but Howard's tape shows a quarterback who can make serious strides when the lightbulb clicks. Teams won't completely dismiss him based on one shaky throwing session in Indianapolis. Put him in a timing-based system where he can use that play-action prowess, and you might just have yourself a starter.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
Will Howard percentiles vs other Quarterbacks (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Will Howard (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
90.2
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
8.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.