Scarlet Sunrise: Where does Will Howard rank in early 2024 Heisman Trophy odds?

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Where does Will Howard rank in early 2024 Heisman Trophy odds?

Will Howard hasn’t even earned the role of QB1 at Ohio State yet. Winter workouts aren’t even over. But he already has Heisman Trophy odds for the 2024 season.

That comes with the territory.

When Howard transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State earlier this month, outside expectations immediately set in that Howard will be the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback in 2024.

Whoever is the Ohio State starting quarterback will have Heisman appeal from the oddsmakers. That’s just the way it is — after all, three of the previous four Buckeyes to hold that position were Heisman finalists (Dwayne Haskins Jr., Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud). The lone exception was Kyle McCord, but he, too, had Heisman odds heading into last season.

Here’s how Howard stacks up on FanDuel’s early 2024 Heisman odds leaderboard:

T-1. QB Quinn Ewers (Texas): +750
T-1. QB Carson Beck (Georgia): +750
3. QB Dillon Gabriel (Oregon): +1000
T-4. QB Will Howard (Ohio State): +1200
T-4. QB Jalen Milroe (Alabama): +1200
6. QB Nico lamaleava (Tennessee): +1500
T-7. QB Garrett Nussmeier (LSU): +1800
T-7. QB Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss): +1800

Howard, of course, still has to beat out not only redshirt sophomore Devin Brown — who made his first career start, albeit an injury-riddled one, in the Cotton Bowl — but also a trio of young signal callers for the keys to the Ohio State offense next season. That group of underclassman competitors includes redshirt freshman Lincoln Kienholz and true freshmen Air Noland and Julian Sayin, both of whom clocked out as On3 Industry Ranking top-five quarterback prospects in the 2024 recruiting class.

Howard, meanwhile, was only a three-star prospect coming out of Pennsylvania’s Downingtown West in the 2020 cycle. The 6-foot-5, 242-pound quarterback was considered the 64th best at his position that year.

Now, he’s got a really good shot to be one of the most high-profile quarterbacks in college football in 2024. Howard’s in that spot because of how he performed at Kansas State, where he started 27 games and piled up 5,786 passing yards, 48 touchdowns and 25 interceptions in his career, in addition to rushing for 921 yards and 19 more scores.

Howard’s dual-threat ability makes him a particularly intriguing Heisman hopeful. He had five runs of 20-plus yards last season alone. And, of those five runs, three went for 30 or more yards and one resulted in a 70-yard gain. He can run with power, and he’s got nice speed as well.

Although he’s not risk averse, his arm talent opens up the offensive cupboard for new OC/quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien and head coach Ryan Day.

The question is if Howard’s potential will translate to the kind of results the oddsmakers are anticipating.

Four-star offensive tackle Carter Lowe commits to Ohio State

2025 four-star Toledo (Ohio) Whitmer offensive tackle Carter Lowe committed to the Buckeyes over Michigan, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee Saturday afternoon.

The 6-foot-5, 285-pound lineman is the No. 9 offensive tackle and the No. 85 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking this cycle.

“Talking with [offensive line] coach Justin Frye,” Lowe told Lettermen Row. “I love his company, I love to talk to him and I try to get up there any chance I get.”

For the full story, go here.

RELATED

• What commitment of Carter Lowe means for Ohio State

Buckeyes have in-house options to lead special teams coaching duties

Ohio State parted ways with special teams coordinator Parker Fleming this offseason. That change felt inevitable given the repeated mistakes in that phase of the game each the last two years.

Head coach Ryan Day doesn’t have to replace Fleming with another special teams coordinator, though. He has the option to hire or promote from within to fill that 10th assistant position with an eye toward beefing up the offense or defense.

In that case, Day’s next move would be appointing special teams responsibilities to someone already on staff.

Which coaches on the Ohio State staff right now could aid with special teams — and make it a strength next season for Ohio State? Lettermen Row took a look at the candidates here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 216 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 307 days

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