Ryan Day states Will Howard has 'taken some strides' in quarterback battle

Ohio State’s quarterback competition is still ongoing through a week now of fall camp in Columbus. Even so, there now appears to be a positive trend in regards to the case of Will Howard.

Ryan Day opened his press conference on Thursday with a question about the battle, specifically that they’d noticed Howard was taking several first-team reps. With that said, Day began by clarifying that Devin Brown is also taking a majority of those snaps along with Howard.

“We’ve been mixing it up a little bit but you’re starting to see he and Devin get a little bit more of the lion’s share of the reps with the ones,” Day noted.

However, Day did give credit where it was due in regards to the recent play of Howard. The staff has noticed where he’s at in regards to the offense and likes what they’ve seen in his improved authority as he has gone on.

“I will say that he has taken, you know, command of the huddle, at the line of scrimmage,” said Day. “He’s much more confident out there.

“I will say that, you know, Will really has, you know, taken some strides here in the last couple practices. Taken control of the offense, making plays on third down,” Day added. “Again, you know, hasn’t won the job but we have seen some positive play there.”

Ohio State brought Howard in out of the transfer portal after a four-year career at Kansas State. They added him as the No. 4 QB and No. 15 overall player in On3’s 2024 Transfer Portal Top Players.

Still, Howard’s commitment didn’t just mean the starting job was his upon his arrival. He has had to compete since coming on with the Buckeyes, especially with their quarterback room being a deep brown with Brown, Lincoln Kienholz, and a pair of top-five freshmen at the position in Julian Sayin and Air Noland

That has been the case during the spring and has continued into the fall for Ohio State. Now, through seven days of practice so far this month, Howard and Brown look to be the two that are vying to be QB1.

Day and the Buckeyes are expecting to have another update on their quarterbacks after playing this weekend. That could lead to the final choice in regards to who their starter will be for this upcoming season.

“No decisions have been made,” asserted Day. “You know, we’re going to probably scrimmage a little bit on Saturday. By then, we’ll take an evaluation, kind of see where we’re at. But, you know, both guys are getting reps with the ones.”