Will Howard pulled back the curtain on Ohio State’s locker room strategy ahead of their dominant national championship showdown against Notre Dame. After falling behind in the first drive, they erupted with 31 unanswered points, steamrolling the Fighting Irish in a commanding 34-23 victory. Notably, they ended up securing the program’s ninth national championship title.
Will Howard Gave Ryan Day and Chip Kelly All the Credit for Ohio State’s Victory
Howard has declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, and even though he hasn’t been discussed much as the upcoming prospect in the draft, his draft stock still saw a significant boost after Ohio State’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game win.
Now, he’s revealed the team’s mindset going in the coveted final game.
The 2024 national championship was nothing less than a rollercoaster ride, as freshman WR Jeremiah Smith clutched the game with a catch against Notre Dame.
Notably, Howard also delivered a standout performance during the game. However, he knew that this was just the beginning.
Right after the national championship game, Howard praised Ohio State’s coaches Ryan Day and Chip Kelly, who made him focus on his completions more than any other thing. So, Howard was not worried about Notre Dame’s lead; he was just focused on keeping the ball in motion.
“Coming into this season, you know, I think something that coach Day and coach Kelly … really emphasized to me was completions,” Howard said.
“Get completions, take completions. You know, there was a couple times earlier where maybe I had to check it down, or maybe it wasn’t, you know, perfectly how it’s drawn up, but you want to just keep the ball moving, you know? And stay on schedule.
“It may not always be pretty, and you may have to go pick it up with your legs, but you know, I got to give all the credit to my guys, my o-line, giving me time and those guys, the receivers. I mean, we got the best receiver room in the country, and it’s not even close. The running backs did a hell of a job, man. And everybody, you know, really stepped up when they needed it.”
Howard ended the game with 17 of 21 passing for 231 yards and two touchdowns while running 16 times for 57 yards.
NCAA Champion Will Howard Lands a Lucrative Nil Deal
Howard surprised everyone when he announced a groundbreaking NIL deal with Dr Pepper. He announced his partnership on social media, where he boasted his involvement with such a major brand.
“Championship football, it’s a Pepper thing,” Howard wrote in the caption.
Howard has definitely become a standout on the college stage and is now predicted to be the top-50 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, Howard always names Day as the reason for his success. He believes that Day’s coaching made him work hard and become the quarterback he is today.
KEEP READING: Howard Declares Ohio State’s WRs the Best in the Nation
“Coach Day is my guy, and he took a chance on me. I basically owe my life to that guy. He’s developed me. I’ve never been coached so hard,” he shared, per Marca.
“That guy got on me so much,” he added. “Like in spring ball, I was like, ‘I don’t even know how to play this position.’ I was like, ‘What the hell, man, this is crazy.'”
Now, he has been able to capitalize on his skills with this latest NIL deal with Dr Pepper. Moreover, this deal is a great contribution to the ongoing conversation about the NIL deals changing the landscape of NCAA athletes. Now, moving to the NFL, Howard has already garnered some sports marketing experience.
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