Portal Power: The Buckeyes Get Their Guy in Will Howard, and More News

Howard posted five games with three or more passing touchdowns, and accounted for five total touchdowns in a 42-13 win over Troy.

For his career, Howard passed for 5,781 yards, 48 touchdowns, and 25 INTs. In addition, he rushed for 921 yards and 19 scores, so he can extend plays with his legs. With the inexperienced Devin Brown as competition on the depth chart, along with incoming true freshman Air Noland, look for Howard to be penciled as the starter, for now.

Edge Nic Scourton

Texas A&M Aggies (from Purdue)

6’4”, 240 lbs.

A 2^nd Team All-Big Ten selection, Nic Scourton racked up 50 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and a forced fumble. Against Nebraska, Scourton recorded 10 tackles and three tackles for loss. In the Michigan game, Scourton recorded five tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss. 

This is a huge addition for Mike Elko and his defense for 2024 and will be a homecoming for Scourton, as he is from nearby Bryan, TX.

LB Jaheim Thomas

Wisconsin Badgers (from Arkansas)

6’4”, 240 lbs.

In 2023, Jaheim Thomas led the Razorbacks in tackles with 90 stops, to go with 6.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. Thomas posted five games with double-digit tackles, including three in a row (35 tackles over that 3-game stretch). He comes to the Badgers with 185 career tackles to his credit. Thomas reunites with Luke Fickell, who coached Thomas at Cincinnati in 2022.

WR Ahmari Huggins-Bruce

South Carolina Gamecocks (from Louisville)

5’11”, 170 lbs.

A native of Dillon, South Carolina, Ahmari Huggins-Bruce is coming home to play for Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks. In 2023, Huggins-Bruce caught 20 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns. In addition, he added a rushing TD. 

Huggins-Bruce's high game of the season came against Boston College, where he caught three passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns. He comes to the Gamecocks having caught 80 career passes for 1,121 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Edge George Gumbs

Florida Gators (from Northern Illinois)

6’4”, 242 lbs.

As a true freshman in 2023, George Gumbs played in 12 games for the Huskies, making at least one tackle in 11 out of 12 games. For the season, Gumbs made 32 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.