Ohio State transfer draws high praise from new OC Chip Kelly

After one year as the Ohio State starting quarterback, Kyle McCord transferred to Syracuse. 

This season, Kansas State transfer Will Howard is expected to get the first crack at the starting QB job for the Buckeyes, who are coming off an 11-2 season that included another rivalry game defeat to Michigan.

On Wednesday, new Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly lauded Howard for his skills, mindset and maturity during a spring practice session in which holdover Devin Brown received most of the first-team snaps. 

"Really impressed," Kelly said regarding Howard, per ElevenWarriors.com.

"You don't have to talk to Will for more than five minutes to know where he's coming from. He's really focused, he knows he has a short window left in his college career and wants to capitalize on what that is," Kelly continued.

Kelly, who served as UCLA's head coach last season, is known as one of the pioneers of the style of zone-read option offense that Howard excelled in at Kansas State. 

Howard's rushing ability should give him a leg up on Brown in the QB competition once he settles into Kelly's system, especially in red-zone situations. 

Howard, who threw for 2,643 yards and 24 touchdowns last season, also had 351 yards rushing and nine touchdowns on the ground for Kansas State in 2023. 

His sense of urgency could propel him to an even better season as one of Ohio State's highest-profile transfers. 

"Sometimes when you're a true freshman and you're five years out, you think, 'I've got a ton of time,'" Kelly said.  

"But when you're a transfer, you've got nine months," Kelly continued. "Will has exuded that since he's been here. The other thing that has stood out in the short time he's been here is how quickly he's fit in with the rest of the team and how much the other players respect him."