Will Howard is anticipated to start at quarterback for the Ohio State football team this season. He transferred from Kansas State, where he played for four years, and chose Ohio State with the goal of competing for a national championship.
Howard didn’t come to Ohio State to sit on the sidelines during his final year of eligibility. However, Julian Sayin might have something to say about that. The true freshman, who transferred from Alabama following Nick Saban’s retirement, has been making a strong impression on head coach Ryan Day.
Sayin recently earned the right to remove his black stripe and aims to play earlier than expected. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Day mentioned that Sayin is putting up a tough fight in competition. Day isn’t ready to name a starting quarterback yet due to the strong performance of multiple players.
This approach is typical of Day, who aims to encourage healthy competition and maximize his players’ potential in every practice. He won’t outright state that Sayin has no chance against Howard, even if that’s the case, as he wants to motivate both players.
I believe Howard will likely start, but based on Day’s comments, the competition is tighter than anticipated. Sayin is a talented player with a promising future, and he could potentially challenge Howard sooner than expected.
Given that this might be Day’s final season coaching Ohio State if things don’t go well, I think he will rely on Howard’s experience to lead the Buckeyes’ offense. Day likely trusts Howard’s abilities and leadership.