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Ryan Day reveals one aspect of Will Howard’s game that makes ‘a huge difference’
By Sean Labar
Published:
Ryan Day has a new quarterback this season, but he is pleased with the progress after Week 1.
Ohio State transfer QB Will Howard had a rocky first quarter in his debut as with the Buckeyes, but finally found his groove, helping his squad cruise to a convincing 52-6 victory in the season opener for 2024. Howard finished the game with an impressive stat line as a passer, completing 17 of his 28 attempts for 228 yards with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions.
But on Tuesday, Day met with the media and pointed out a different part of Howard’s game he believes can be a significant weapon for the Buckeyes this season.
Day was asked specifically about Howard’s ability to use his legs to rush out of pressure.
Ryan Day on Will Howard using his feet, scrambling:
“He can because he’s big in the pocket. But he also has speed,” Day said. “When you can steal a couple of third downs with scrambles, that makes a huge difference.”
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) September 3, 2024
“He can because he’s big in the pocket,” Day said. “When you can steal a couple of third downs with scrambles, that makes a huge difference.”
At 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, it’s surprising to think of Howard as a runner, but it’s part of his skillset that has made him a dynamic QB in college football and one of the reasons Day and his staff pursued him so heavily in the transfer portal. Chip Kelly touched on that athleticism during training camp, highlighting Howard’s surprising top-end speed as a runner.
Howard only had 4 rushes for 18 yards on Saturday, but as Day alluded, a few of them came in key moments where he escaped a potential sack and picked up a first down.
Last season at Kansas State, Howard closed out the year with 81 rushes for 351 yards and 9 touchdowns. It’s clearly an underrated part of his game Day is hoping will continue to help the Buckeyes this season.