Ex-Ohio State Star Will Howard Blames Michigan Fans for Overreaction to NFL Scouting Combine Performance

Former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard has found himself in the crosshairs after his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine sparked some heated debates. The QB, known for leading the Buckeyes to a national championship, had a few shaky throws during the combine—something he claims Michigan Wolverines fans have blown out of proportion.

Howard, not one to shy away from speaking his mind, addressed the criticism on Wednesday after his solid showing at Ohio State Pro Day. "The combine, obviously, there were some things said about it afterwards, but I thought I did pretty well," Howard said in a statement via WBNS-TV. "I think, really, it was team up north's fans blowing it out of proportion. I missed two throws obviously, but other guys did too." Oh, the age-old Michigan-Ohio State rivalry—never a dull moment.

While he may not be a first-round draft pick, Howard is still on the radar for quarterback-needy teams, especially after his improved performance on Pro Day. NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah described Howard's combine efforts as "solid," acknowledging that some of his passes looked "flat" but also noting that he "looked very comfortable from under center." It’s a mixed bag, but hey, that’s the scouting world for you.

Even fellow NFL prospect Shedeur Sanders jumped to Howard’s defense, criticizing the backlash against the Ohio State star. "I don’t understand y’all hating on @whoward_ he just won a natty. It’s hard to throw to WR’s that you don’t know, everyone run routes different!" Sanders wrote on X.

For context, Howard transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State before the 2024 season and threw for an impressive 4,010 passing yards and 35 touchdown passes, leading the Buckeyes to glory. At the combine, his physical stats included a 31.5-inch vertical jump, a 9-foot-4-inch broad jump, a 7.13-second cone drill, and a 4.33-second 20-yard shuttle.

Despite the noise surrounding his combine performance, Howard seems to be taking it all in stride. "You always want to put yourself in uncomfortable situations," he said. "I wasn’t mad about it. I thought I did well at the combine and I got good feedback from people except pretty much the media. It is what it is, it’s part of it." A level-headed response, but let’s be real—he’s probably rolling his eyes at some of this criticism behind closed doors.

Now, as Howard looks ahead to the NFL Draft, it’s clear he’s ready to move on from the chatter. Whether or not Michigan fans were truly at the root of the uproar, this QB is focusing on what’s next.