Analyst Reveals Why Will Howard Spurned USC as Transfer

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Brendan Howe | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 6:00 AM ET

FOX Sports college football analyst RJ Young broke down the USC Trojans' chances of climbing to the top of the Big Ten on Sunday. Lincoln Riley's program has been on a tear on the recruiting trail, and Young offered a nugget about former Ohio State Buckeyes passer Will Howard as he revisited the team's quarterback play.

"Up until recently, and by recently, I mean Miller Moss, Lincoln Riley had been more or less unassailable when it comes to evaluating quarterback play," Young said Sunday on "Adapt & Respond with RJ Young." "We all know that, when he got to Oklahoma, it was Baker Mayfield, and from Baker Mayfield, you get to Jalen Hurts. From Jalen Hurts, you get to something like Spencer Rattler. ... Kyler Murray's in there, obviously, right? And then Caleb Williams.

"And then we get the move to USC. Caleb Williams follows, so we'll count that, but after that, Miller Moss had a great game in the Holiday Bowl against Louisville. And that got him the job. As a matter of fact, probably kept Will Howard from going to USC."

Howard discussed his transfer portal recruitment on Ryan Russillo's podcast in March, a month before being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

"When it kind of came down to it, it was really Miami, USC, Ohio State, and then the draft," Howard said. "I want to go somewhere where I feel like I can develop as a quarterback and improve my draft stock and compete for a national championship. You know, Miami had a favorable schedule. You know, they had a really good offense. You know, but I just felt like at the end of the day, it wasn't the right place for me.

"USC, the draw was Lincoln (Riley). I felt like he's one of the most elite quarterback developers and maybe if I had like two or three years of eligibility left, I'd go there."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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