Former Ohio State quarterback Will Howard reveals a shocking truth that would have changed the trajectory of the 2024 college football season.
A short nine months ago, Will Howard hoisted the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy in Atlanta, capping the greatest run by any team in the sport's history. But while everyone in Buckeye Nation celebrated just another convincing victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, it meant so much more to Howard.
On Wednesday, Howard joined his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates on the "Not Just Football" Podcast and revealed a shocking piece of info from the 2024 offseason.
"I thought I was going to end up at Notre Dame... They ended up signing Riley (Leonard) right before I was about to commit... I call my agent and he was like, 'Sorry buddy, they just told me they took Riley' ... A lot of people didn't know that had happened going into the national championship and I remember the general manager was standing on the sideline right where we were warming up and I was just staring daggers through him."-
This is a true "sliding doors" moment for all of college football in 2024. Howard was mere hours away from committing to join Notre Dame. Everything that could have changed is staggering.
Would that have flipped Riley Leonard to Ohio State? Would Devin Brown have led the Buckeyes into the year? If it were Brown, would that have resulted in a title win for the Buckeyes? Would Howard have been the difference for the Irish to win the championship?
If Howard had been a few hours earlier to make his decision, who knows what would have happened?
Ohio State gladly took in Notre Dame's second choice and developed him into one of the best quarterbacks in America last year. Once Howard settled in, he became a true game changer in Columbus. When the chips were down and everyone was doubting eighth-seeded Ohio State, Howard put together the best four-game stretch of his life.
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In the College Football Playoff, Howard finished at 1,150 yards on a 75% completion percentage with eight touchdowns and just two interceptions. He was special for the Buckeyes, and his college story ended with him raising the trophy against the school that chose someone else.
Howard went from a relative unknown in college football to a sixth-round draft pick. Many are optimistic in Pittsburgh that the soon-to-be 24-year-old has what it takes to be a Ben Roethlisberger-type quarterback that leads the Steelers back to relevance.
Those are big shoes to fill, but if anyone can do it, it's the former Buckeye.