Will Howard has started off hot at Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes score 108 points in their first two games of the season. So are we talking about a guy who has NFL potential?
Colin Cowherd asked that very question to FOX college football analyst Joel Klatt on Wednesday. Klatt was brutally honest in his assessment, implying he needs to see more, while also taking a dig at himself in the process.
“A lot of us get a chance. I mean, even I got a chance,” Klatt said, mentioning his brief stints with the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions.
Howard certainly looks the part, at 6’4” and 235 pounds, which will make NFL scouts drool. And as Kansas State fans know, Howard has the ability to make plays with his arm or using his legs in an effective manner.
So far with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Howard has completed 64.8% of his passes for 520 yards and four touchdowns to no interceptions while rushing five times for 24 yards and another touchdown. Granted, this has come against Akron and Western Michigan.
The joke of a non-conference schedule for the Buckeyes continues this weekend against Marshall. So we really won’t get a feel for how, or if, Howard has improved until he gets into Big Ten play. That begins in Week 5, when Ohio State goes to Michigan State. That’s followed up by a tough stretch for the Buckeyes where they will then take on Iowa, Oregon, Nebraska and Penn State.
Meantime back in Manhattan, Kansas, the Wildcats aren’t feeling the loss of Howard as they get to have home-state product Avery Johnson lead Kansas State to a 3-0 start to the season, including a 31-7 win vs. Arizona last week.
The Wildcats hit the road this week to open Big 12 play against BYU on Saturday night. Kick off is set for 9:30 CST.
