Is there any college football player who did more than OSU’s Will Howard to help his stock during the first iteration of the College Football Playoff? He transferred to Ohio State with the intention of winning a national championship, and that’s exactly what he did by playing the best football of his career. Take the playoff game against Notre Dame, for instance. He connected on his first 13 passes to set the record for consecutive completions in a CFP title game.

Surely, Ryan Day was a proud coach that day. “I give this guy a lot of credit right here,” Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said about Howard. “It was the last game of the season, and we were going to (use all) our bullets. He really put the team on his back.” But what is next for the quarterback?

The most logical answer seems to be the NFL Draft. However, you can never be too sure owing to the modern dynamics of the sport. Take Carson Beck, for instance. Despite declaring for the draft, he committed to Miami. But it seems Howard knows where he needs to go next. He has his priorities straight.

During an appearance on Good Morning America, Will Howard was asked, “What’s next for you?” Host Robin Roberts probably expected a diplomatic answer about wanting to soak in the championship before making that discernment. He did get that initially, but Howard revealed more than she bargained for.

“Next? You know, we’re just going to celebrate this one for a couple days. Hopefully go back to Columbus, enjoy it. Maybe go home for a couple days. Then get started on the NFL Draft. Get ready to hopefully do Pro Day and go to the Combine and all that stuff. So next step is making that making that jump.”

Howard was perhaps the biggest beneficiary for the OSU’s successful run. He was mostly an afterthought in the NFL Draft talks just a year ago, but now, fans can’t wait to see where he lands in the NFL. 

Franchises that are eyeing a QB2 who can slot in seamlessly under center could try to snatch Will Howard. Yes, he’ll likely have to bide his time as a backup, and will probably be a mid-round pick. The Combine next month provides Howard with an opportunity to make further inroads into the front offices’.

For instance, the QB could be a great option for the Rams. He could step into the QB2 role and learn behind Matthew Stafford (if he returns next season). Then, there are the Cleveland Browns. Having the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, they might go for names like Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. However, there is a buzz that Deshaun Watson’s uncertain future with the team could result in them not picking a QB with the second overall pick.

So, there could be a possibility that the Cleveland front office would be interested in keeping the young quarterback in the state of Ohio. Regardless of what happens, Ryan Day’s side will lose one of their greatest assets.

Will Howard’s exit is a blow to Ryan Day’s plans…

If you see reports of strong winds down in Atlanta, they probably rose from Ryan Day taking the biggest sigh of relief ever. Coach Day was under duress to save his sanctity, his reputation, and his reverence in front of the Buckeyes faithful. He would have thought that bringing the championship back to Columbus after a decade’s absence would alleviate all the weight off him. That stands true, however, an off-shoot that perhaps stems from the triumph itself has surfaced.

Ohio State has now lost both his QB1 and QB2 from the Championship Roster. As Will Howard departs for the NFL, his deputy Devin Brown has exited via the transfer portal. Brown had hit the portal a while ago but remained with the Buckeyes during their playoff run.

According to portal expert Pete Nakos, Devin Brown is likely headed to California to play for the Golden Bears. This came out within minutes of the final whistle in the Mercedes-Benz.

This very striking and prominent hole in his team may not be at the forefront of Ryan Day’s mind right now. However, it will creep up on him eventually.

Despite having the most talented roster in the country, the team can only go as far as their quarterback takes them. Ohio State chose Will Howard a year ago and is reaping the ultimate reward. Now, it’s time to go through the process again. One championship is sweet. But in the grand scheme of this fabled blueblood, sustained success is what’ll make Ryan Day an icon. What do you think?