Scarlet Sunrise: On3 ranks Will Howard among best Big Ten QBs entering season

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Will Howard ranked third among best B1G QBs entering season

Ohio State hasn’t named Will Howard the starting quarterback just yet. But the writing seems to be on the wall, and whenever that decision is made, Howard will be inserted into one of the best offenses in the country — and by default, he becomes one of the top quarterbacks, too.

If that does happen, Howard will be considered among the elite quarterbacks in the Big Ten. In fact, On3’s Andy Backstrom ranked Big Ten quarterbacks entering this season, and Howard showed up as the third-best QB in the conference behind Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Penn State’s Drew Allar.

Of course, Backstrom had his reasoning.

Here’s what On3’s Andy Backstrom had to say about Howard entering this season:

Will Howard did a lot with a little at Kansas State. For instance, he never had a wideout with more than 725 receiving yards in a single season during his four years with the Wildcats. But Howard is coming off a 2023 campaign in which he totaled 33 touchdowns, including nine on the ground. Now clocking in at 6-foot-4, 233 pounds, he’s a true dual threat, something Ohio State hasn’t leaned on since Justin Fields in 2020. If Howard cuts down on mistakes — he had 10 interceptions last season — and develops mechanically, he could significantly boost his draft stock this year with the Buckeyes. He still has to be named the starter over redshirt sophomore Devin Brown, but that feels like a “when not if” situation.

Andy Backstrom, On3

If Howard wins the job and shines, he could find his way to the top of the Big Ten QB Power Rankings soon.

Five Buckeyes land on ESPN preseason All-American teams

Another day, another preseason list that highlights just how good Ohio State can be this season. And this one is coming from a major outlet.

ESPN released its preseason All-American team on Wednesday morning, and the Buckeyes have five players scattered among the first- and second-team selections. That’s tied with Alabama for the most players on the two All-American teams from ESPN.

Just one of the five for the Buckeyes is a first-team All-American. That’s second-year safety Caleb Downs, who transferred to Ohio State from Alabama after a Freshman All-American campaign for the Crimson Tide a season ago.

Downs is the lone Buckeyes player listed as a first-teamer, while Alabama, Georgia and Michigan all have three first-team selections.

READ MORE: Five Buckeyes land on ESPN preseason All-American teams

ICYMI: Buckeyes freshman LB Payton Pierce sheds black stripe

Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis raved about freshman linebacker Payton Pierce last week when he met with the media.

Since that conversation, it seemed like just a matter of time before Pierce lost his black stripe, a signal that he’s officially a member of the football program. That time has come.

Pierce lost his black stripe Tuesday after Buckeyes practice, the program announced on social media. He’s the fourth Ohio State freshman to lose the black stripe this August, joining defensive end Eddrick Houston, safety Jaylen McClain and running back James Peoples. Quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith previously lost their black stripe during spring practice.

READ MORE: Buckeyes freshman linebacker Payton Pierce sheds black stripe

Counting Down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 16 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 107 days

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