PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Will Howard is from Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and is starting his pro football career in Pittsburgh with the Steelers.
But the 6-foot-4, 236-pound quarterback is larger than life in the next state over.
Advertisement
Almost five months after helping Ohio State win its first national championship in 10 years, Howard returned to the Buckeye State last weekend, following the conclusion of the Steelers’ mandatory minicamp. Through FlexWork Sports, Howard hosted a camp in Pickerington for kids ages 6-16.
Howard walked onto the Pickerington North football field Saturday morning — the old home of his Ohio State and Steelers teammate, defensive end Jack Sawyer. He did so to the tune of The McCoys’ “Hang on Sloopy,” which is performed in a marching band arrangement at the end of the third quarter of every game at Ohio Stadium. The song was met with a chorus of excited screams and “OH-IO” chants from anxious wannabe Buckeyes across the turf.
Howard took photos with campers and their families, and then he met with reporters before he conducted the camp.
“I’m always going to have a home here,” Howard said.
While the kids in attendance repeatedly shouted “We want Will!” Howard sported a beaming grin, chuckled and added: “It’s crazy, right? They’re chanting my name right now. It’s crazy.
Advertisement
“I love this place. I was only here for one year, but, man, this is a place that I’m going to call home forever, so it’s always good to be back.”
The transfer portal is ever-changing and often unforgiving, but for Howard, it delivered him to the right place at the right time.
After starting 27 games and even winning a Big 12 title during his four up-and-down years at Kansas State, Howard arrived at Ohio State in early 2024. The Buckeyes were bringing back a horde of draft-eligible players on both sides of the ball, including Sawyer.
Howard was the centerpiece of a star-studded portal class that also featured former Alabama safety Caleb Downs and former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins. The Buckeyes’ roster last season, reportedly worth approximately $20 million in its entirety, demanded a championship season.
Advertisement
It got one, but only after a pair of regular-season losses — a heartbreaker at Oregon and another embarrassment at home against arch-rival Michigan — plus a gauntlet run during the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.
Will Howard and Aaron Rodgers during Steelers minicamp on June 11. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
(Joe Sargent via Getty Images)
Howard played the best football of his career in the postseason, completing 75.2% of his passes, posting an 8:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio and averaging 287.5 yards per game through the air.
Ohio State took down four top-10 opponents — Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame — en route to its ninth national title. And Howard, who finished the season with 42 total touchdowns and a program-record eight games with at least an 80% completion rate, solidified himself as a draft prospect whom the Steelers picked in the sixth round in April.
Advertisement
“I think when you win something like that, pretty much you own the town,” said Jon Legg, a Grove City, Ohio, father whose eighth-grade son attended Howard’s camp.
Legg added: “He made that run in the playoffs, was a stud and everyone’s saying, ‘Oh, he was surrounded by greatness,’ but hey, man, you got to have someone out there flinging it.”
Howard was the last of Ohio State’s school-record-tying 14 draft selections this year. But playing quarterback for the Buckeyes comes with celebrity status in Columbus and the entire state.
That status has been elevated since Howard played his part in Ohio State reclaiming its throne at the top of college football.
Advertisement
“Coming from Kansas State into Columbus, which is just crazy with the fans and everything and the expectations, and to be able to deliver,” said Kyle Fleck, a Granville, Ohio, father whose fourth-grade son participated in Howard’s camp. “I mean, he can do whatever he wants in Columbus the rest of his life and be successful and everything.”
For now, Howard’s focused on making a name for himself in Pittsburgh as well. He’s enjoying the city’s proximity to Columbus, and noted that he was at the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club this past Friday and people were yelling “OH!” at him.
Aaron Rodgers finally ended a will-they, won’t-they relationship with the Steelers earlier this month when the 41-year-old quarterback signed a one-year deal ahead of minicamp. Howard is taking a backseat learning behind a four-time NFL MVP, whom he said “couldn’t be a better guy.”
Howard emphasized Rodgers’ football intelligence and his willingness to help the rookie develop. Specifically, Howard mentioned the game-changing effectiveness of Rodgers’ cadence, and his eagerness to replicate it. He explained that Rodgers has also given him footwork advice, particularly about how he should keep his feet tighter in his base at the top of his drop for more throwing power.
Advertisement
“Obviously I want to do what he does now because he’s the guy,” Howard said.
In Ohio, though, Howard’s still the guy.
