Chip Kelly shares how Will Howard stepped up as leader after Seth McLaughlin injury

Will Howard has turned heads with his play for Ohio State through the course of the Buckeyes’ run in the College Football Playoff, but offensive coordinator Chip Kelly chose to heap some praise on the quarterback’s leadership.

Particularly, Kelly reminisced about the way Howard stepped up as a leader when offensive lineman Seth McLaughlin went down with a season-ending injury. Speaking with the media ahead of the National Championship Game, the offensive coordinator waxed poetic about Howard.

“One of the things, Will is conscience of what’s going on. He’s very aware. Not only did we lose a great player in Seth, we lost a great leader in Seth,” Kelly explained. “So, there was a little bit of a vacuum, from a leadership standpoint. Will did a great job, between Will and Donnie [Donovan Jackson]. Those are the two leaders, and those other guys up front, bringing those other guys along with them. So, that was evident to us, after Seth went down.

“Both Will and Donnie kind of stepping up and filling that void with losing Seth, because Seth was such a great leader for that group up front.”

Will Howard ended up at Ohio State as an unassuming starter, but he’s elevated to become one of the better Buckeyes quarterbacks in recent memory. If he can cap off a tremendous season with a win on Monday evening, he’ll etch his name into history, both in Columbus and throughout the sport of college football as a whole.

Will Howard jokes that he fell on purpose on breakaway run

Moreover, one of Will Howard’s more memorable plays throughout Ohio State’s CFP run happened on a run where it looked like the quarterback was headed to the end zone, only to trip before getting there. Luckily, the Buckeyes still scored on the drive to take the lead, and Howard had some quips about the moment during his postgame press conference.

“That fourth down was huge. They came out and gave us a good look for the play, and the offensive line blocked it up well. Yeah, I fell on purpose,” Howard joked. “I’m joking. I didn’t fall on purpose. It should’ve been a dang touchdown, but I was trying to keep a couple seconds on the clock. No, I’m joking. 

“Yeah, it was a great play, and a statement drive. We needed that. We’d been beating ourselves all day. Penalties and you know, just getting behind the sticks. That was a statement drive. The offensive line did a heck of a job on that drive.”

Regardless of Howard’s embarrassing moment, Ohio State came away with the dub, and they’ll only need one more to immortalize themselves in college football history. The light at the end of the tunnel is near for the Buckeyes.