Emeka Egbuka raves over Will Howard, how he has improved offense

Inconsistent quarterback play was the one glaring weakness for Ohio State in 2023. Buckeyes star receiver Emeka Egbuka doesn’t expect that to be the case this year. Egbuka has been very impressed with Kansas State QB transfer Will Howard this offseason.

Egbuka recently spoke about what he expects from Howard this fall and how he is the leader of the Ohio State offense.

“You can feel kind of his fifth-year presence when he steps onto the field. He gets in the huddle, takes command of it, lets everybody know their assignment and what they’ve got, kind of like a field general out there,” Egbuka said. “Has tremendous confidence in his ability, so that bleeds out throughout the entire offense and we’re able to play fast.”

Will Howard played in 34 games, making 28 starts, during his time at Kansas State. He led the Wildcats to the Big 12 title in 2022 and last season was a second-team All-Big 12 selection.

Ohio State is hoping that Howard is the missing piece to get the Buckeyes over the top and to the national championship in 2024.

According to Egbuka, Howard has consistently improved since stepping on campus and is poised for a big year.

“I think it’s something where you’re in a new environment. You’ve got to get accustomed to the people. You’ve gotta get accustomed to the new offense,” Egbuka said. “So it’s all coming with time, and he just continues to get better and better every practice.”

Jeremiah Smith states Will Howard has made a ‘big jump’

Emeka Egbuka isn’t the only Ohio State receiver who has been impressed by Will Howard lately.

On Friday, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith revealed how Howard has transformed since the Buckeyes’ spring training.

“He definitely made a big jump from in the spring,” Smith said. “I like his confidence. He’s starting to talk more. Talk a lot of mess on the field and I like that about my quarterback. I love quarterbacks who like to talk and just get around his players and make them feel good.”

Even without the offseason improvement, Howard is an exceptional talent. Howard touted a 14-11 record in 25 career starts at Kansas State. His best season came last year when he notched 2,643 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing a career-high 61.3% of his passes.

He boasts 5,786 passing yards, 48 touchdowns and 25 interceptions in his career. In his first season with the Buckeyes, Howard hopes to add to his totals. With receivers like Smith out wide, Howard will have no shortage of talent to target.

Smith was the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle, according to On3 Industry Rankings. Additionally, he was named the Florida Player of the Year by MaxPreps. In 14 games as a senior, Smith erupted for 88 receptions for 1,376 yards and 19 touchdowns.