A long time ago, quarterback Will Howard played for Kansas State.
It's so hard for many to remember, considering the turns his career has taken since. The long-time Wildcat transferred to Ohio State in his fifth season, winning a championship and elevating his Draft stock, eventually landing with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round.
But now, his name is back in circulation around Kansas State. Howard discussed his time with the Wildcats in a recent interview with The Athletic, covering the growth of NIL in college and its long-term impact on players transitioning to the NFL.
And...Howard took the story in a different direction. He said the institution "took advantage" of him in his final seasons, fueling his move to Columbus, OH.
"Everything I did was on my own. They kind of took advantage of me and got me for cheap, so I decided to go somewhere else and make a little money," Howard said. "It’s different when you go to a school, and you’re the guy getting money. It’s amazing how differently you’re treated. It was the best decision I ever made."
And as you can imagine, Kansas State fans didn't like hearing that.
Howard is held in relatively high regard in Manhattan, KS, with his exit as more of a program shift than an internal issue. This, however, may have just knocked him down a few pegs.
Howard shuffled around the starting position for years, eventually losing it to Avery Johnson. He had a career year in 2023, but the program decided to move on with Johnson after his promising freshman campaign. Kansas State wanted to invest in a budding star like Johnson, and Howard's tenure with the program was fairly inconsistent and underwhelming. In turn, the Wildcats veteran went to Ohio State, winning the 2025 title in a dominant postseason run.
"Throughout his career, he was inconsistent and unproven," one fan tweeted. "No regard for the opportunity, platform, and development K-State gave him. Avery was a top 100, elite 11 QB from KS. He's gonna get paid. The entitlement and ungratefulness isn’t a good look for him."
Johnson remained the starter for Kansas State, while Howard now battles for the top position in Pittsburgh.
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