Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day believes his quarterback, Will Howard, is prepared and ready to succeed in the NFL right away. After winning the College Football National Championship over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Day had high praise for the quarterback.
What Did Ryan Day Say About Will Howard?
In the game, Howard completed 17 of 21 pass attempts for 231 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 57 yards on the ground.
Howard again showed strong command of Ohio State’s offense, and his close connection with star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was showcased on a 56-yard pass to effectively end the game in the fourth quarter.
College football analyst Chase Brown provided a transcript of what Day said about his star quarterback, Howard, on the social media platform X. Day praised Howard’s positional attributes, which he feels set him apart from other quarterbacks in college football and the NFL.
“When Will’s feet are right, he is as good as anybody I’ve been around. His accuracy, his ability to see the way he commands the team, the work he puts in. I think the thing that nobody is probably going to understand how much credit he deserves is how much he can take on,” Day detailed.
He then said that whichever NFL franchise selects Howard this April would be getting a professional who can immediately impact the team.
“Whichever organization decides to draft Will is going to get, like, a pro day one he’s walking in the door,” Day added.
Ryan Day called Will Howard "NFL material" and said whichever team drafts him will get "a pro" from the moment he walks in the building.
"When Will's feet are right, he is as good as anybody I've been around. His accuracy, his ability to see the way he commands the team, the…
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) January 21, 2025
Howard’s 2025 NFL Draft Projection
In Pro Football Network’s recent 7-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft, Howard was selected in the fourth round, No. 135 overall, by the Baltimore Ravens.
Though Howard may enjoy being a member of the Ravens organization and part of a successful franchise, this landing spot may not benefit his playing career in any way. The Ravens have superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson, and that is almost certainly not going to change anytime soon. Jackson is only 28 years old and appears to have a long and successful career ahead of him in the NFL.
Though Day believes Howard can make an instant impact at the NFL level, that opportunity may be limited should he be drafted by a franchise that already has a long-term answer at the position.