Will Howard: ‘They Took Advantage of Me’ — Inside the NIL Politics at Kansas State

Former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard, featured in a new story by David Ubben of The Athletic on Friday, just dropped some major insight into the NIL spending habits of college football in the modern era.

In the story, which examines disparities between NIL deals and rookie contracts upon signing to play in the NFL, Howard dives into his final season at Kansas State, where he split snaps with then-freshman Avery Johnson, coming off his third season as the Wildcats’ full-time starter, during that 2023 season.

A Second Team All-Big 12 gunslinger that year, Howard told The Athletic he was making less than Johnson in his fourth season in Manhattan, Kansas.

Will Howard’s Blunt Comments

“I was a naive kid. I didn’t know. The nature of myself, I didn’t want anything or need money. I said I was good,” Howard said. “There were a lot of politics the last year. There were games I was splitting time with him for no reason that I knew other than there was money going to him that wasn’t going to me.”

Of course, Howard went on to lead Ohio State to a national title as a touted Heisman contender in 2024. He was living pretty comfortably, too, thanks to his agreed deal with the Buckeyes.

“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. It’s different when you go to a school, and you’re the guy getting money. It’s amazing how different you’re treated. It was the best decision I ever made.”

Howard’s Path

The Downingtown, Pennsylvania, native ended up a sixth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in last year’s NFL Draft. Howard signed a four-year, $4.5 million rookie contract on May 9, 2025.

Howard, like a lot of incoming freshmen in 2020, entered the NIL era at arguably the worst time.

The pandemic-laden season didn’t just hurt the box office, but it also served as the prequel to the Supreme Court ruling in favor of Name, Image and Likeness in 2021 as a means of compensating athletes. It’s since grown to accommodate deals in the millions of dollars, and cases like Howard’s aren’t all that unique.

It feels like every week we’re hearing of another court ruling, either granting or denying a veteran player’s ability to see the field again. Howard, who spent five seasons at the college level, didn’t reap the full potential of the NIL sphere.

Aside from dollars, we’re talking about housing, vehicles, meals, experiences and travel – all of it under the umbrella of college football these days.

And, frankly, if players are largely committing based on the compensation package versus professional ambitions, then we’re in for an interesting era where potential draft picks might delay their pro career as much as possible because the large share of rookie contracts just won’t compete.