The lights were bright, and the stakes were high. Ohio State Buckeyes’ quarterback Will Howard stepped onto the field at Lucas Oil Stadium after a storybook season under Ryan Day—with 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns—knowing this was his chance to prove he belonged in the NFL. Every throw, every drill, every measured inch would be scrutinized. But as the Ohio State QB worked through the pressure of the NFL combine, he carried more than just expectations on his shoulders—he carried the memory of someone who never got to see him shine...

But before we dive into that, notably, Howard has always been that quiet guy, who’d usually stay under the radar, and prove critics wrong with his performances. As a Penn State fan growing up, where his father and uncle studied, and his younger sister, Tori, is currently enrolled, the QB dreamed of representing the Nittany Lions. “I grew up a Penn State fan. I wanted to go there my whole life,” he had dreamed, until reality struck hard.

While taking a sack in his junior year, the young player broke his throwing arm—an accident detrimental to his recruiting prospect. The very James Franklin, who once rode on a helicopter to his games, dialed back his attention. The heartbreak, somehow, was too much to bear for Howard. However, like the true professional he is, he turned it into motivation. “There was some frustration, and I think that fueled Will. He’s like, ‘There’s people who say I can’t play Power 5 football. Well, watch me.’ I don’t think he’d be the player he is today without everything,” his mother, Maureen, said. And, exactly four years later, his efforts paid off in dividends…

Having transferred from Kansas State to the Buckeyes ahead of the 2024 season, the quarterback finally got a path clearly headed toward redemption. He defeated his once dream team, 20-13, proving to Franklin what he’d missed out on. Yet, as he moved closer and closer to the championship, some absences kept bothering him. And just like earlier, he turned those absences into motivation…

In a video released ahead of the Rose Bowl vs the Oregon Ducks earlier this year(which the Bucks won 41-21, Howard talked about how some people in his life continue to support him from the other side.

“Before every game, I listen to two voicemails that my late grandmother sent me. And I’ve been doing that [for] every game for the last three years now. I listen to her voicemail, and it just brought this immense peace over me,” the 23-year-old revealed about Ann King, who had unexpectedly passed away in 2023. Immediately after, his grandma’s voice took center stage with an endearing message, “Hiya Will, it’s Nana. Just want to wish you good luck, I’m rootin’ for you.”

“This year, it was really for the playoffs. It actually, probably got me going even more. I think it really helped,” Howard then noted. Painfully, that was not the only lingering agony in Will’s life… On March 2, the NFL Instagram account posed an intriguing prompt:

“If I could play catch with any person, who would I choose and why?” While Texas WR Matthew Golden chose his QB Quinn Ewers as the guy, and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, picked former NFL star WR Calvin Johnson Jr., aka Megatron, saying, “Who wouldn’t want to throw to Megatron?”, Will Howard’s choice was personal and went further than football stars and legends.

“My grandfather,” he declared. “He passed away a couple of years ago. He didn’t really get to see me play much at my college or high school career. So I know he’d be proud of where I’m at now.” 

But as Will Howard battled through the highs and lows of the combine, his biggest cheerleader was watching. His girlfriend, Skyler Skoglund, took to social media to hype up her QB, posting a quote from NFL analyst Lance Zierlein—“Brings outstanding size and toughness to the table.” At the bottom of the page, she added just two words, “go willis.” Simple, direct, and full of belief. 

That unwavering support followed Will Howard as he worked through his on-field drills. He measured in at 6’4, 236 pounds, posted a 31.5-inch vertical jump, a 9’4-inch broad jump, a 7.14-second 3-cone drill, and a 4.33-second 20-yard shuttle.

Although he didn’t participate in the 40-yard dash, his throwing session stole the show—not just for his performance but for the crowd’s reaction.

Will Howard got cheered and booed 

No QB at the NFL combine generated more noise, both positive and negative, than Will Howard. Every passing was met with a mix of cheers and jeers. OSU fans in the stands made sure to show their support, but rival fans, especially from that team up north, let him hear it just as loudly. “I heard them, I heard them,” the QB shrugged it off with a laugh. “Ohio State travels. We’re loved and we’re hated.”

Will Howard’s throws were a mix of crisp completions and a couple of missed downfield passes to receivers Da’Quan Felton and Chimere Dike. But he knows he has more to prove when he leaves Indy. “I felt decent,” he admitted. “I’m my own biggest critic, so I feel like there were some things I could clean up… And I’m excited for my pro day to show that I can spin it a little more.”

He’ll get one more chance to prove himself at Ohio State’s pro day where he can throw to familiar faces, including WR Emeka Egbuka, who opted to not participate at the combine. Fueled by the memory of his grandfather and the support of those closest to him, Will Howard is not just chasing a draft pick—he’s chasing something bigger.