Replacing Will Howard: No Will, But Buckeyes Must Still Find A Way

This is the fifth in a series looking at how the Buckeyes will be replacing their departed starters in 2025. Up next is the quarterback spot vacated by fifth-year senior Will Howard.

Will Howard came to Ohio State last season after four years at Kansas State. His arrival was scoffed at by many, analyzed by some, and shrugged at by most. By the end of it, he ended up setting school records while being the starting quarterback on a national championship team for the Buckeyes.

Howard completed a school-record 73% of his passes this past season, setting an OSU season and career record with eight games of 80% completion percentage or better. Howard threw for 4,010 yards with 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He finished third nationally in pass efficiency (175.25) and yards per pass attempt (9.5), and second in completion percentage.

Will Howard also got better as the season went on and he saved his best for the four playoff games. His pass efficiency rose to 184.40 in those four games, as did his completion percentage (75.2) and yards per attempt (10.6). He also threw for eight touchdowns and two interceptions. His yards per game rose from 250.6 in the regular season to 287.5 in the playoffs.

Whoever takes over for Howard will have a very tough act to follow.

The Candidates

There are only three scholarship quarterbacks on the Ohio State roster following the transfers of backup QB Devin Brown and true freshman Air Noland this past season. Julian Sayin was the Buckeyes’ No. 3 quarterback behind Howard and Brown as a true freshman in 2024 and expectations are high for one of the top QB prospects in the 2024 recruiting class. He completed 5-of-12 passes for 84 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions last year.

Lincoln Kienholz is entering his third year at Ohio State. He did not throw a pass last season, but as a true freshman in 2023 he completed 10-of-22 passes for 111 yards. Most of that action came in the Cotton Bowl against Missouri where he had to come off the bench for an injured Devin Brown. He completed 6-of-17 passes for 86 yards in a 14-3 loss to the Tigers.

True freshman Tavien St. Clair is a five-star prospect out of Bellefontaine, Ohio who was rated the No. 1 quarterback in the 2025 class by Rivals, the No. 2 QB by ESPN, and the No. 3 QB by 247Sports and On3.

Spring Outlook

All three quarterbacks will be taking part in spring practice when things get underway in about six weeks. Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz will be competing for the starting spot, but neither is so experienced that an advanced true freshman couldn’t make things interesting.

When the Buckeyes split their offense and defense into two separate teams in camp so that they can practice on two fields simultaneously, it will be interesting to see how the quarterbacks get split up. With just three scholarship quarterbacks, whoever is not sharing reps will be viewed as the leader in the clubhouse.

That is, until they rotate the quarterbacks in the next practice, and so on after that. Regardless, there are going to be more and better reps available this spring compared to last spring when the numbers were split over five quarterbacks and Howard and Brown were getting the bulk of the top reps.

Best Bet

Julian Sayin (6-1 203) made quite the impression last season as a true freshman. He was advanced for his age in terms of understanding the offense and where to go with the football. He is the betting favorite to win the job, but nobody’s just going to give it to him.

Lincoln Kienholz (6-3 207) came to Ohio State from South Dakota, so it was always understood that there would be a developmental process. This will be just his second spring as a Buckeye, but he’s better equipped now to compete for the job than he’s ever been. He also brings a running aspect to his game.

Tavien St. Clair (6-4 225) already looks like a third-year college quarterback. He was around the team as much as he could be last year and throughout the postseason. Expect some growing pains this year, however. That’s just how freshman years go.

A veteran quarterback could be brought in following spring ball. Ryan Day wants four scholarship quarterbacks on the roster if he can make it happen. The talent level of that eventual quarterback will tell you all you need to know about how the spring quarterback competition went. If they bring in a veteran like past transfers Tristan Gebbia or Chris Chugunov, then they feel pretty good about their guys. If they bring in somebody like Will Howard, then that’s going to mean something much different.

Emeka Egbuka – Slot Receiver | Gee Scott, Jr. – Tight End | Cody Simon – Middle Linebacker | Jordan Hancock – Nickel Back

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