QB Will Howard pregame press conference | Ohio State-Akron week

We'll start the front row often. Well, I know that this sounds like a question. You've been asked a lot about coming to a new program getting comfortable. Uh, and you've described that already in terms of becoming a leader. Is there a point where you started to feel like that was setting in and that people were listening to you in the locker room or maybe that won't happen until you play a game. I don't know. But that's, I'm trying to make that different than just like, hey, you know, where to go to practice. Yeah. No, it's, um, that's a huge part of it, especially coming in. You know, I say that my, my situation is very different than like, you know, coming in as a true freshman. You know, you have to come in and really gain the, the respect and the trust of a whole football team in the span of 67 months. Um, and, you know, for me, the first thing that was the most important thing was just getting relationships with everyone. I was like, I wanna get to know everyone on the team because, you know, they're not gonna respect me if they don't know me, you know. And so that was the first thing I was, you know, that was what the spring was for, what the winner was for. I was like, all right, I'm gonna get to know these guys, you know, let them get to know me and, you know, kind of, kind of just go from there. Um, and then once I, I feel like for me, like, once we got through that spring, coming back in the summer and we started off summer workouts, that was when I kind of started to settle into that role and feel a little more comfortable, you know, challenging guys just because, you know, we already had that relationship. Um You know, I feel like, uh you know, we, we worked hard in the summer and, and coach Mick gave us a lot of opportunities to become leaders, you know, through those, through some of the challenges we had in our workouts and our runs and he put us through a fire so that, you know, we, we had to deal with some adversity before, you know, we just get out there on the field because it can't be the first time that you're going through something out on the field, you know, so we've already experienced a lot of tough stuff, you know, in our controlled environment, but I, I'm excited to get out there on the field and, and show these guys how I can really play in a real setting, you know, because they haven't got to see me play, you know, in a game yet. So I'm excited for that. Go over here down the dirt. The players say there's nothing like playing a game in the shoe. This will be your first experience. What are you most looking forward to? Uh, how well do you sleep the night before the game and what's going through your mind, man? I'm, I'm so excited like I, I truly can't, you know, I, I can't overstate that, like how excited I am. Um You know, I'm, I'm fired up, man. You know, I grew up as a kid watching the big 10. You know, I, I've played in a lot of places now, you know, at this point in my career, I've, I've, you know, played in front of hundreds of thousands, you know, but the, the shoe and the, the atmosphere here, it's different, man and the traditions. I'm really excited just to, just to experience all of it, you know, we've walked through like, what's it gonna be like on a game day? But just getting out there and, and doing it for the first time and, and I think the thing I'm most excited for is running out and in front of, in front of, uh, you know, 100 10,000, you know, at the shoe. Um, and just taking that in because, you know, I, I only get so many opportunities here um, you know, I wanna make sure I soak it in, you know, before we go out there and, and get to business, strap it up and, and play. I asked this question as well. Um, exciting, um, will always say you don't look ahead was the Florida State loss. That's just a reminder of that mindset. I don't know if you saw the game, but I did. Is that just a, yeah, you gotta stay locked in each game 100%. And I mean, I think that shows you that, you know, especially conference games. I mean, anything can happen. Um, and you can't overlook anyone, you know, just because, you know, Georgia Tech was a, was a lower seed and, you know, it wasn't really ranked. Um, I, I mean, you can say that you can say that, you know, for, for really anything. Um, you know, but I think it just, it just really emphasizes the fact that, you know, you can't overlook anyone and, and, you know, the most important thing is what's right in front of you and, and for us that, you know, we know that we got a lot of matchup games down the road and a lot of really important games and, and some tough teams to play. But, um, you know, the most, most important thing for us right now is Akron and, you know, it's because it's the next thing, you know, right here in the front door, it's just this, this year, does it feel like a whirlwind to you that, you know, a year ago you were playing for Kansas State and, and now you're here, I mean, what have you, are you able to process all this? Yeah, it is, it is a little weird, you know, it's kind of stepping back and, and, you know, thinking about, like, oh, I'm, I'm gonna be playing college football but not at K State. You know, that, that's, it, it was kind of weird at first when I, you know, when I had to kind of put that in my brain. But, um, you know, I've mentally prepared myself for this, you know, for a while and I kind of knew that last year was probably gonna be my last year there. So I knew that I, whatever I was gonna be doing was gonna be a new step. Um, and I mean, this, this step that I've taken has just been a blessing in every single way, you know, I feel like just the opportunity and, and, you know, the challenges that I've had to go through already here, you know, have really made me better, you know, as, as a player, you know, I feel like a different player than I did even last year. So I'm just excited because it's a new opportunity. It's a new challenge and, you know, it's kind of kind of lit a new spark in me, you know, and, and I, I don't wanna say I was, I was complacent last year, you know, in my time in case a because I wasn't, but, you know, it, it just, it, it lit a new spark and there, there's something, there's something special about this team and, and about this year and I, I'm, I'm excited, man. It's, it's gonna be fun one. Yeah. What was your reaction when Ryan told you? It was two in your mind? What does it mean to be the starting quarterback at Ohio State? What comes with that? What, what is that role? Um, you know, obviously the, you know, when he told us, um I was, I was very excited. Um, you know, it's an honor, it's a privilege and I don't take it lightly, you know, and, and there's a lot of really, really good players in that room and, you know, to be named the starter um in a group, you know, like we have is, is an honor and it truly, you know, is, is special to me. Um and being the, you know, being the starting quarterback of Ohio State, you know, it's, uh it's, it's truly a, like I said, it's a blessing man. It's, it's not something I take lightly and, you know, I know that there's a lot of stuff that comes with that, you know, I don't know, there's a lot of expectations and, you know, pressure if you will. But, um, you know, I, I knew that that was, that was, you know, that was the first goal on my, on my list when we got here, you know, was to, you know, was to be the guy. Um, and, you know, I knew I had to work for it and the guys in the room weren't going to make it easy. Um, you know, but I felt like I had a good camp and II I showed the coaching staff, you know, what I could do and felt like I finally settled into the offense for the first time. Um And, you know, just going through fall, you know, I feel, I feel really, really confident with, you know, kind of how we're, how I'm feeling the offense out and how I'm kind of, you know, evolving in this system. Um And yeah, I'm just, I'm very, I'm flattered. I'm, I'm fired up, man. It's, it's humbling, but it's also, um, you know, something I don't take, I don't take lightly at all and I'm, I'm humbled. I'm, I'm blessed, man. It's, uh it's gonna be fun on the aisle. Healer on the second row. Don't m well, um I asked coach today this, he and coach Kelly both kind of called you the run game coordinator of the offense and I know you did a lot of, you know, run game stuff at the case thing. But is there anything different about what's on your plate here with, with this run game with chip and I guess just the responsibility of making sure you're always on point with your reads. Um, how do you think you've handled that through? I think it's, it's really good for me and I think, you know, they say that all the time is, you know, what, what is your job in the run game? It's, you're the run game coordinator. Um, and, you know, it's, it's my job to, you know, say we have a, we have a good play called, um, you know, or we got a, we got a pressure coming from the field. We don't wanna run this play and do it. You know, it's my job to get us in and out of that. You know, obviously the coaches, um, can only do so much, but we're the ones that are out there, you know, actually calling the shots and I'm the one that's got the chalk last on a lot of that stuff. So it's cool. It gives me a little more sense of responsibility about the offense and it makes, it makes you as a quarterback, you know, you're always clued into something. You know, it's when you're a quarterback and you're, you know, mentally taking plays off, that's not a good thing. You know, you should be locked, dialed in every single play, you know, here, what's my plan? You know what, I, I need to have a plan every single play and coach Kelly and Coach Day have done a really good job of, kind of instilling that in me and, you know, just taking responsibility for a lot of the things that I have to do, you know, in terms of whether it's protection or run game, whatever it is, um, you know, whether it's controlling it with, you know, our, our, our different calls or, you know, RP OS or whatever it may be. Um, you know, it's my job to get us in and out of good, you know, good and bad plays. Um, and it's a good responsibility. It's good for me for, you know, developing myself for the next level and, and I think it's, it's good for overall for the team because, you know, when you have a run system where you can call a play and it can go three different ways and all of them, you know, have an answer for everything like that makes it easier on, on you as an offense. You know, you don't have to run plays and, and waste plays that are good versus something and not something else, you know, from JC, what's it been like having Chip Kelly and you're here with the headset and, and practices and how different is, is that for you as a quarterback this year to have that new technology? I think it's, you know, when you use it to your, to your advantage and in a good way, um, it's really cool and I think, you know, it's it, it took a little getting used to, you know, you had to, we had to work through some kinks and, you know, some days it's really loud and staticky and, you know, some days it's, um, you know, it's perfect but, you know, just going through it and, and kind of working out the kinks of it through camp. I think there's a lot of really cool things you can use it for and, you know, if you're breaking the huddle, you know, early, you know, you got, got him until 15 seconds, you know, he can, he can give you a little reminders here and there. Like there's, there's little things that you can do with the headset. And, um, you know, I think, I think you can, if you use it to your, to your advantage and, and, you know, you're efficient with it, then I think it's gonna be, it's gonna be a really good tool for us. We talked to you, you were mentioning one of the things you want to get better at is just pushing the ball down the field more, not, not necessarily how good you are, but just your eagerness to do it a little bit more often. And this is, I mean, this with all due respect to all the talent you played with in your career, how much of that is just the weapons you have here being open means to something a little bit different where maybe you're able to take a few more chances because you're throwing the guys where maybe you haven't had guys like this in the past. Yeah. And I, you know, this, I don't, I mean, no disrespect to the guys I've played with because I've played with some really good players and I don't want anyone to take this out of context. You know, because I've, I've played with a lot of good players but, you know, I think here it's, it's a little different and the way that Coach day and coach Kelly teach some things are, you know, hey, that, that guy is wide open, he may not look wide open, he might have a guy right on him, but he's wide open in the NFL, he's wide open, you know, and that's the mindset that I've had to kind of develop a little more is like, he may not be, you know, he may not look to the, to the general public like he's, uh, open, you know, but if you put a back shoulder ball on him, then, you know, that that's a, that's a play you can make and, and with the guys that we have here, I mean, I there's, I mean, they, they make plays like I've never seen anyone make plays before. So, you know, that has nothing to do. I'm just strictly speaking about the guys that, you know, I have, but I'm saying like it is, it's a blessing to be able to, you know, what, wherever the, if it's one on one coverage, I mean, they're, they're open, you know, it just depends on how I have to throw the ball. And I think that was a lot how Coach Kelly and Coach Day kind of instilled that in my brain. Like, hey, he may not look open but he's wide open, you know. Uh, yeah. Well, I'm trying to remember it. When is the last time you were able to step into a huddle call? A play? And, you know, the vision of that is the romantic vision is you're up bringing somebody about something though before, you know what I mean? We got to drop the ball. But how much do you think that will, uh, help, I guess from a demeanor standpoint for this offense this year, you looking forward to it? Yeah, I am. I'm looking forward to it. I think it's, uh, it's cool. I've been in huddle system, my freshman and sophomore year. We were all huddle out of K state and we were all off of a wristband or not. Um, but we were all out of the huddle and I kind of like that, you know, and when you're, when you're good with the huddle and when you get out of the huddle with, you know, 2025 seconds left and you get out there and you have time to, um, you know, analyze the defense, then it's good. But if you you know, if you get caught in the huddle and, you know, there can be things that can go bad with it, but I think the way that we're using it here, um, you know, trying to break the huddle, be efficient, getting, getting out onto the football. Um, it's good and I like having that face time with my guys, you know, a little bit before the play and like you said, like, you know, whether it's reminding them on this play, hey, you know, the running back, we gotta do, you know, this kind of footwork or whatever it is, like just giving them a little, you know, hey, let's, let's go get this, you know, let's go get this one guys like, you know, whatever it may be like, I like just being able to look at them all in the face and, you know, before we get out to the line of scrimmage, I think that there's a, there's a cool element to that. Well, how has your maybe, you know, approach to things changed from when you were competing for the starting job to when you were named for starter and now you're just preparing to be the starter. Yeah, I think, you know, it changes a little bit, you know, I feel like when, when you're given that, um when you're given that position, you know, you're, you're able to have a little more of a say in things, um, you know, say, like you know, we're going through some past concepts, you know, you know, when you're competing for a job, you may not be as eager to say, hey, I don't, I don't really like that concept coach, you know, but, you know, not when you're the, when you're the starter and, you know, they're telling you, hey, we wanna hear your, you know, your input, you know, if you don't like a play, then we're not gonna run it, you know, like that, that's kind of the difference. And, you know, I just feel like I have a little more, um you know, ownership in, in some of the play calls and, and some of the, you know, just some of the read and some of the stuff that we're doing and obviously, you know, there's a structure to everything and, um you know, I, I gotta, gotta do what, you know, the coach is telling me to, you know, but I, I do feel like I have more say and, and, and I can, you know, voice my opinion on, hey, I like this concept. I don't like this concept and it's more of a collaborative effort, you know, from that perspective. And last question. Well, has there been a, a moment uh something whether it's a fan interaction, teammates walked around campus in the city that's given you a sense of I'm not trying to be flipping here, but I'm not in Kansas anymore. I mean, have you have you had that moment where you're like, oh, my goodness. Things are bigger here, you know, I, I knew, you know, I, like I said, I grew up a big 10, you know, watching the big 10. I, you know, growing up, unfortunately I was a Penn State fan for most of my life. But now, you know, I came to the, came to the bright side, um, but I would say I'd say that spring game and when I went out there for the spring game and there was 82,000 people. I was like at K State, we didn't even have a, like a spring game, you know, like I, and I, I, they used to do spring games and they would, you know, they pack it out but I mean, 82,000 at, you know, at a, if you will glorified scrimmage is pretty crazy, you know, and I was, and everyone just kept asking me like, oh, what was your guys' spring game? Right? Like, and I was like, we had a practice 15, we didn't have a, you know, a, a spring game. So, you know, it's, it's a little different but, you know, everything. It's cool, man. You know, the, the, the market is huge here, you know, in, in Manhattan, it was, it was really cool because it was a small college town and everyone was so bought in. But here it's like, it's a big city but you still feel that, like everyone in the city, like just huge Buckeyes fans and feeling that in a big city is, is really cool. It's like, dang, like, you know, it's not just a small town kind of thing. It's like, you know, everyone in this city is really, like, bought into the Buckeyes and man, it's cool. It, it, it's, it's unlike anything else. Really. All right. Hey, thank you guys both.