Urban Meyer not buying Will Howard as top Heisman candidate

Ohio State has one of the most talent rosters in college football history this season with high national championship aspirations. But will the Buckeyes produce a Heisman Trophy winner this season for the first time since Troy Smith took home the award in 2006?

Quarterback Will Howard is currently a Top 5 Heisman favorite among oddsmakers entering the season. But former Buckeyes’ head coach Urban Meyer is not as confident that Ohio State’s new transfer addition under center will be able to take home the award when the season is all said and done. Sharing on The Triple Option podcast with Mark Ingram and Rob Stone why he believes a pretty good season for Howard won’t be enough.

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“You need more than pretty good though Mark and that’s the only concern is they have the two first- rounders at tailback, they have an incredible group of receivers. I’m just not sure,” Meyer said. “I think he’s a great player and I think he’s gonna run one of the top offenses of the country. But when you get to November, you have to have the stats.”

Howard joined the Buckeyes after throwing for 5,786 yards, rushing for 921 yards, and scoring 67 total touchdowns in his career at Kansas State. And despite him likely leading an offense that may be one of the most dominant units and overall teams in the country, Meyer does not envision him being the standout player on a loaded team similar to past Buckeyes.

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“I’ve been down that road before and at times you actually feel guilty because you didn’t give the guy enough carries. It was Zeke Elliot or you had J.T. [Barrett], just didn’t give him enough touchdowns. Because at the end of the day yes, you have to be part of a great team. But you have to have the stats and that’s my concern about Will Howard,” Meyer explained.

“I just don’t see him having that 40 touchdown passing season. I think he’ll be very good runner for Ohio State, but not enough statistically to put him in the Heisman.”

Another factor that could play into Howard’s Heisman campaign is Ohio State’s schedule, which features plenty of games that won’t be challenging for the Buckeyes that Howard may not even have to play in entirely.

“I worry about that, I mean you look closely at that schedule, there are five weeks until they play a game. Now, the game they play in five weeks is a real one, but they have three games where they’re 50-point favorites, a bye week, and then Michigan State, like we said, is a shell of themselves,” Meyer said. “You’re playing 35-40 plays a game and you have all that other talent on that field, how do you walk away from those games? You’re gonna pull them in the third, fourth quarter. How do you do that? I’m just worried about that.”

On the flip side, Howard may have the opportunity to put up impressive numbers early in the season versus lesser competition to help his case statistically for the Heisman trophy. But at the end of the day, there’s no question that the Buckeyes will have several players capable of being tabbed the best in the country ahead of a highly anticipated season in Columbus. Where a national title will be the most valued trophy for Ohio State’s program.