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Ohio State quarterback Will Howard selected by Pittsburgh Steelers in sixth round of NFL Draft

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•04/26/25•

SpencerHolbrook

Will Howard
Ohio State QB Will Howard (© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

COLUMBUS — Will Howard spent just one season at Ohio State, but he made a massive impact on the program as a player and a leader. Oh, and he won a national championship and a lot of other hardware during his time with the Buckeyes, to boot.

Now he will look to have a similar impact in Pittsburgh. The national championship-winning quarterback was selected No. 185 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday during the 2025 NFL Draft.

Howard is the fourth Ohio State quarterback drafted since current head coach Ryan Day joined the Buckeyes coaching staff back in 2017. The three before him, Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud, were all first-round picks. Howard, though, is the only of the four with a national title.

Howard was excellent for the Buckeyes in 2024, throwing for 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns while completing 73 percent of his passes. He added 226 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground to that total, as well. Where he really shined, however, was in the four-game run to the national title when he threw for 1,150 yards and eight touchdowns to just two interceptions across the four games.

Originally a multi-year starter at Kansas State, Howard was cast off to the transfer portal as the Wildcats went in a different direction at quarterback. That’s when the chose Ohio State over last spring’s NFL Draft with the hope of becoming a national title-winning signal caller and a better draft prospect.

Mission accomplished.

Now Howard’s next mission will be developing at the next level. First stop in that journey: Pittsburgh, where he was selected to play after going in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Four Buckeyes selected in first round of 2025 NFL Draft

Ohio State had four players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (19th overall), offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (24th overall), defensive tackle Tyleik Williams (28th overall) and left tackle Josh Simmons (32nd overall) were taken — two of them heading to the NFC North as Jackson will be in Minnesota while Williams is heading to Detroit. Egbuka was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while Simmons went to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Day Two picks…

Running back Quinshon Judkins went No. 36 overall to the Cleveland Browns. Running TreVeyon Henderson went two picks later at No. 38 to the New England Patriots, and defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau was selected at No. 45 overall by the Indianapolis Colts.

Ohio State players still available

TE Gee Scott Jr.
OT Josh Fryar
OL Seth McLaughlin

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