There are a few huge storylines as the Ohio State Buckeyes enter a big-time matchup with the Missouri Tigers in the Cotton Bowl. While everyone wants to know Marvin Harrison Jr.’s future with the team, the fanbase also wants to see who will be their future quarterback.
After a full year as a starter, Kyle McCord entered the transfer portal and landed at Syracuse. In his place, Devin Brown gets an opportunity to showcase his talent on a massive stage. Is he the answer? We look at Ohio State’s options for the position in 2024.
Ohio State Buckeyes’ Quarterback Options for 2024
Devin Brown
Brown challenged McCord coming into the season and even saw some time as the backup in key moments for the Buckeyes this year.
He threw for 197 yards with 2 touchdowns and ran for 35 yards with another score.
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Ryan Day has indicated he’s fired up about the talent on the roster, and it’s easy to believe him. The Buckeyes head coach has done a great job developing his quarterbacks, and Brown has plenty of talent to get the Ohio State offense back on track in 2024.
If Brown has a solid game in the Cotton Bowl, he’ll be the heavy favorite to win the job next year, regardless of the other options the Buckeyes have on the roster.
Lincoln Kienholz
Kienholz is considered Devin Brown’s biggest competition for next year’s starting spot. The former 4-star recruit saw the field in just 2 games but completed 4 passes for 25 yards.
All eyes will be on him if Brown struggles against Missouri, and there will be a ton of pressure on the sophomore to step up in his place. Given that Ohio State used 2 quarterbacks at times in games this year already, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Kienholz get some time, even if Brown plays well.
Air Norland
Let’s start with the obvious. The man’s name is Air, a perfect name for a quarterback in the Ohio State Buckeyes system. Norland’s the sixth-best quarterback in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports, and there’s reason to believe he’ll compete for the starting spot.
The southpaw would simply bring a different look to the offense by throwing the ball, but he has the tools to be an effective passer. He brings a quick release to the Buckeyes offense, and he can easily make throws at every level. Norland threw for over 10,000 yards and 126 touchdowns in 4 seasons with Langston Hughes High School.
Will Howard, Kansas State
While Day stated he’s confident in his guys on the roster, the Ohio State Buckeyes remain interested in potential portal players. Will Howard’s been rumored to USC, new information shows that the Buckeyes are looking at the former Wildcats quarterback.
Howard took huge strides in 2023 and showed off an impressive arm that caught the attention of many big-time programs. Ohio State would expect him to compete for the starting spot immediately, and Howard would also bring valuable experience to the quarterback room.
Cam Ward, Washington State
This one feels like a longshot, given that Ward hasn’t visited Ohio State. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s not considering the Buckeyes, but we have nothing concrete showing interest. Ward might be down to Florida State or Miami, but we’ve seen surprises in the portal already.
Ward is a big-time gunslinger who elevated his game at Incarnate Word and Washington State. He plays the game confidently, and it’s hard to deny what his talent could do under Ryan Day’s tutelage. It just doesn’t appear likely that the two sides would unite.
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