Tag: ohio state

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Will Howard, Ohio State

Will Howard is a National Champion with a shaky combine

Will Howard was a three-star recruit out of high school in Downingtown, Pennsylvania and was pursued by 20 colleges before signing with the Kansas State Wildcats. As a freshman, he stepped in to replace the injured Skylar Thompson. He returned to being Thompson’s backup again in 2021.

He was slated to be the starter in 2022, but Adrian Martinez transferred in and took the spot until he, too, was injured, allowing Howard to step back in as the starter to finish out the year. He finally became the full-time starter as a senior in 2023 and started 12 games. With the change in eligibility years after COVID, Howard used the transfer portal to spend his fifth and final collegiate season as the starter for Ohio State.

That move proved prudent. He led the Buckeyes to a 14-2 record and led the team to a National Championship where he was named the Offensive MVP. He racked up a total of 4,010 passing yards, threw for 35 touchdowns and rushed in seven more.

Height: 6-5
Weight: 236 pounds
40 time: 4.8 seconds (est.)

Howard isn’t just an athlete. He also earned a 3.94 GPA at Ohio State while pursuing a master’s degree in sports coaching. He enters the NFL with just one notable major college season, but it was winning a national championship and elevating his national profile in the process.

Will Howard Stats (2022-24)

Season Team Gms Cmp Att Cmp % Yds TD Int Rush Yds TD
2020 Kansas State 9 90 168 54% 1178 8 10 78 364 3
2021 Kansas State 6 30 55 55% 332 1 1 32 184 4
2022 Kansas State 7 119 199 60% 1633 15 4 35 22 3
2023 Kansas State 12 219 357 61% 2643 24 10 81 351 9
2024 Ohio State 16 309 423 73% 4010 35 10 105 226 7
Career 50 767 1202 64% 9796 83 35 331 1147 26

 Pros

  • Strong arm that can make any throw on the field
  • Prototypical height and weight that serves him in the pocket
  • Can buy more time to throw with his legs
  • Not a running quarterback, but a capable rusher with 26 rushing scores in college
  • Poised in the pocket and can beat a blitz
  • Accurate deep ball

Cons

  • May be more a product of the play caller than his own talent
  • Sometimes settled too early on his reads
  • Throwing mechanics need continue development
  • May suffer accuracy issues against faster NFL defenders and shrinking windows
  • Benefitted from playing inside a great offense for his only notable season

Fantasy Outlook

Howard was expected to likely be a Day 2 selection, but he may fall after a combine performance that was considered one of the worst. His throws were a disaster with most wildly inaccurate. He overthrew, underthrew and did the receivers no favors. Sure, he was throwing to those receivers for the first time, but it looked like the first time he had thrown to any receivers ever. He was one of the talking points from the entire combine, and not in a good way.

Where he drops in the draft is always hard to guess. He had one great season winning a national championship that naturally propelled him into prominence for the draft. But he only truly succeeded in college during his only season playing inside the best team in the NCAA. Was he the reason for the Buckeyes success or just the product fo everything around him?

His fantasy stock this year depends on where he ends up and their needs, but the expectation is that he’ll end up as he did in Kansas State, as the backup waiting for the starting quarterback to be injured.

Fresh off National Championship run Chip Kelly hired as Raiders OC

One year at Ohio State was all it took for Chip Kelly to take an offense to a national championship and a return to the NFL with the Raiders.

Chip Kelly is back in the NFL. After leading the Ohio State offense to the National Championship, the former Eagles and Oregon Ducks head coach will be the Raiders next offensive coorcinator.

Kelly was at Ohio State for just one season, which makes for some impressive results. Previous to that he had been a head coach for several years, starting at Oregon before heading to the NFL to coach the Eagles, then spent a year with the 49ers, before heading back to the college ranks at UCLA.

While Kelly’s head coaching record has not great since his days at Oregon, it’s his work as an offensive coordinator where he has developed a reputation as one of football’s greatest innovators.

He and Pete Carroll coached against each other for three seasons in the Pac-10. The first two with Kelly as Oregon’s OC and the final season in 2009 when Kelly was promoted to head coach. The Ducks went to the Rose Bowl that year, which was Carroll’s final season at USC before leaving to take the Seahawks job.

What does the future hold for Chris Olave?

Between uncertain contract status, concerning injury history, and a new coach on the way, what does the future hold for New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave?

Change is in the air for the New Orleans Saints, and some of it might impact the best players on their roster. Between uncertain contract status, concerning injury history, and a new coach on the way, what does the future hold for Chris Olave?

The Saints must make a decision by May 2 on whether or not to pick up Olave’s fifth-year option, which is estimated at $15,161,000. He’s already under contract for the upcoming 2025 season. The question is whether to pay him like a top-15 player at his position in 2026, or to risk letting him walk away as a free agent. The franchise tag could be in play but it’ll be even more expensive than his fifth-year option. It’s going to increase from this year’s estimate of $25,693,000, which is top-five among wide receiver salaries.

So Olave’s long-term outlook is in doubt before we even get to his health. He’s one of the younger players on the team (he’ll turn 25 this summer) but has already suffered a series of concussions, including two in 2024. He’s given every indication he plans to keep playing football but those are serious brain injuries. He was limited to a career-low 32 catches and 400 yards in eight games because of it. Recurring concussions, or even the concern for them, can end a career. Some of Olave’s family members have already spoken out against him putting his body on the line for a team with no future.

And then you’ve got a new coach coming in, with the Saints expected to hire Kellen Moore after his duties as Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator conclude in Super Bowl LIX. On the one hand, Olave’s presence should be an attraction for a young, offensive-minded coach like Moore. That’s exactly the type of talent he’ll need to get the most out of his system. On the other hand, there may be other players Moore views as better fits for the role Olave would have in his offense. Rashid Shaheed was outproducing him last year before they both went down with injuries. For his part, Olave is excited about the prospect of working with Moore and says he plans on being a better version of himself for whoever is coaching the team.

We shouldn’t dismiss a trade out of hand. If the Saints have doubts about Olave’s health, future contract value, or fit in the offense they could look to get something back for him. One team that makes sense? The Houston Texans, who are working around the clock to support franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud. Stroud and Olave played together at Ohio State and remain close. The Saints traded up in the 2022 draft to get Olave because they felt he was their missing piece. That was the wrong read on their situation. If they’re going to embrace a rebuild (and they should), sending him to a contender and getting back some draft picks back makes sense. Houston controls their own picks in each of the first four rounds. While they swung and missed in a trade for Stefon Diggs last year, they could try again with Olave. If the Saints can possibly get a first-round pick back for him, they owe it to themselves to look into it.

Ideally, none of this comes to pass. You’d hope for Olave to stay healthy and produce well in new offense before signing a long-term contract extension to keep playing in New Orleans. But things rarely go according to plan in the NFL. His career to this point has been proof of it. And with a critical juncture ahead this offseason, we have to assume anything could happen for No. 12.

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Ohio State OL coach Justin Frye to be Cardinals’ new OL coach

The Cardinals look to the college ranks and national champions to replace Klayton Adams, now the OC of the Dallas Cowboys.

The Arizona Cardinals are adding a coach from the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes to their staff. After the Dallas Cowboys hired offensive line coach Klayton Adams to be their offensive coordinator, per multiple reports, the Cardinals are replacing him with Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport had it first.

Frye spent the last three seasons as the Buckeyes’ O-line coach and coached Cardinals left tackle Paris Johnson, the team’s 2023 first-round pick, during his final season at Ohio State.

Frye was a graduate assistant from 2007-2010 for Indiana and Florida, each school for two years. After that, he was the offensive line coach for Temple in 2011-2012, Boston College from 2013-2017 before going to UCLA in 2018 working for head coach Chip Kelly. He was the O-line coach in 2018 and from 2019-2021 was offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, before going to Ohio State.

The Buckeyes won the national championship despite losing starting left tackle Justin Simmons and starting center Seth McLaughlin to season-ending injuries.

He will work with a Cardinals offensive line that has some uncertainty. Johnson and starting right tackle Jonah Williams both had season-ending knee injuries, while tackle Kelvin Beachum and guards Will Hernandez, Evan Brown and Trystan Colon will be free agents next month.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Rams go sensible route in 1st round of NFL.com’s latest mock draft

Rather than going with a flashy pick in Round 1, the Rams play it safe and take a player who could be their future left tackle

With needs at wide receiver, tight end and quarterback, the Los Angeles Rams could be enticed to make a flashy pick in the first round of the draft this year. It’d be hard to blame them for picking a guy at any of those positions, but offensive tackle could certainly use some attention early in the draft – particularly if Alaric Jackson leaves in free agency.

Eric Edholm of NFL.com has the Rams going the sensible route in the first round, addressing their need at left tackle by selecting Ohio State national champion Donovan Jackson at No. 26 overall.

Jackson moved from left guard to tackle to help the Buckeyes win a title and played well on an island protecting Will Howard, leading Edholm to believe he can be an NFL left tackle.

Jackson goes three picks after the injured teammate (Josh Simmons) he replaced so ably during Ohio State’s national championship run, moving from left guard to left tackle when the Buckeyes needed help on the blind edge. He’s a multi-positional blocker who deserves a shot at playing OT in the NFL at some point.

Jackson was primarily a guard in college and that’s likely where some teams will project him to play at the next level, especially given his 6-foot-4 frame. He doesn’t necessarily have the length of a prototypical tackle but he played well enough down the stretch to earn an opportunity to line up there in the NFL.

The Rams typically like taller, longer left tackles – Andrew Whitworth is 6-7 and Joe Noteboom is 6-5 – but they could break that mold for a player with a championship pedigree like Jackson.

ESPN projects Notre Dame performance in 2026 College Football Playoff

See how the Irish would go here.

Notre Dame fans might still be smarting over the outcome of the 2025 College Football Playoff title game, but it’s time to look to 2026. At least that’s how ESPN sees it.

Very quickly after the Irish’s loss to Ohio State concluded, Mark Schlabach presented his 2025 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings and placed the Irish fourth. Now, Bill Connelly has presented his initial projections for the 2026 College Football Playoff, something he safely could do given the format will be unchanged from 2025.

The Irish are slotted as the seventh seed and host of a first-round game, but the bigger story in this scenario is their first opponent would be LSU. What’s more, this projection has the Irish beating the Tigers in a game that Brian Kelly surely never would live down.

Alas, this projection also has Penn State getting revenge on the Irish in the Rose Bowl en route to winning the national title. At least there’s no shame in losing to the last team standing:

https://www.instagram.com/on3/p/DFYLrobx-b9/?hl=en

Welcome to college football, where predictions never take time off.

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Follow Geoffrey on X: @gfclark89

Penn State DC hire makes USC’s retention of D’Anton Lynn more impressive

Penn State just hired elite defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. USC was ready to keep D’Anton Lynn away from Happy Valley. The Trojans did something right.

Two weeks ago, USC made a big move by extending fast-rising defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn. The move came amid interest in Lynn from Penn State, his alma mater, for its defensive coordinator position.

On Sunday, the Nittany Lions announced their new defensive coordinator, and it was a big name. Penn State was able to poach star DC Jim Knowles away from Big Ten foe Ohio State. Less than a week removed from winning a national championship with the Buckeyes, Knowles will now head to Happy Valley to work in the same role.

The Knowles hire only makes USC’s retention of Lynn look all the more impressive. Clearly, Penn State was willing to pay top dollar to pry a top candidate away from an established powerhouse. The fact that the Trojans were able to hold onto Lynn despite the Nittany Lions’ push further highlights USC’s strong investment in the football program.

As we wrote over the weekend, this also means there are no excuses for head coach Lincoln Riley. The athletic department has spent significant money to retain his highly touted defensive coordinator and hire general manager Chad Bowden away from rival Notre Dame. If the Trojans flop on the field yet again in 2025, Riley will have no one but himself to blame.

Notre Dame targeting former Rutgers coach as defensive coordinator

Would you like this hire?

Notre Dame has an opening at defensive coordinator. It might not have been what Irish fans wanted after the season their team just had, but that’s the nature of football. Coaches come and go for their next big payday.

Pete Sampson of The Athletic has learned from multiple sources that the Irish are eyeing a “strong candidate” for defensive coordinator in former Rutgers coach Chris Ash. His last coaching position was defensive backs coach for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022 and 2023. That came off one season as safeties coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ash went 8-32 with the Scarlet Knights before being fired a month into the 2019 season without ever making a bowl game. Previously, he was the defensive coordinator at Ohio State, Arkansas, Wisconsin and Drake.

Ash isn’t the first candidate to emerge for this job, but those possibilities haven’t worked out. That doesn’t necessarily mean Ash will be the guy, but Irish fans better start thinking that he might be. Welcome to the world of offseason speculation.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on X: @gfclark89

Lady Vols defeat Ohio State in top 25 match, advance to championship

Lady Vols advance to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship after defeating Ohio State.

No. 18 Tennessee (4-0) defeated No. 15 Ohio State (3-1), 4-3, on Saturday at Goodfriend Tennis Center in the second round of the ITA Kickoff Weekend.

The Lady Vols advance to ITA National Team Indoor Championship Feb. 7-11.

“That’s what college tennis is all about,” Tennessee assistant coach Elizabeth Scotty said. “You love to see those moments when both teams put it all out on the line. Ohio State came out massive after that doubles point. For the team, for Tennessee, we just rallied behind one another and slowly inched our way back into it. It was incredible.”

Tennessee-Ohio State tennis results

Singles

1. #10 Elza Tomase (TENN) def. #8 Luciana Perry (OSU) 6-3, 6-4

2. Teah Chavez (OSU) def. #19 Catherine Aulia (TENN) 6-2, 6-2

3. Shelly Bereznyak (OSU) def. Maeve Thornton (TENN) 6-2, 6-3

4. #106 Leyla Britez Risso (TENN) def. #84 Sydni Ratliff (OSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2

5. Nao Nishino (OSU) def. #54 Vanesa Suarez (TENN) 6-1, 6-3

6. Conley Raidt (TENN) def. #46 Audrey Spencer (OSU) 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5)

Doubles

1. Elza Tomase/Elim Yan (TENN) def. Dani Schoenly/Sydni Ratliff (OSU) 6-2

2. Catherine Aulia/Leyla Britez Risso (TENN) def. Teah Chavez/Luciana Perry (OSU) 6-3

3. Maeve Thornton/Vanesa Suarez (TENN) vs. Nao Nishino/Audrey Spencer (OSU) 5-3, unfinished

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); singles (2,5,3,1,4,6)

Texans Wire OC candidates: Making the case for Ohio State OC Chip Kelly

Chip Kelly just won a national title and might be the favorite to replace Bobby Slowik with the Houston Texans in 2025.

The Houston Texans are looking for a new man to lead the offense following the firing of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik Friday afternoon.

Fresh off back-to-back AFC South division titles, Houston remains a prime location for any play-caller to flourish. The Texans have the quarterback in C.J. Stroud. They also have weapons, with Pro Bowlers Nico Collins and Joe Mixon back for 2025.

The Texans are expected to make a run at several offensive pieces in free agency and the draft, thus bolstering the personnel heading into 2025. And until plans change in Indianapolis, Tennessee, or Jacksonville, Houston remains the favorite to win the division entering next fall.

So, who are the top candidates?

Texans Wire will analyze a candidate each day until the hiring process concludes. Today, we begin with the individual that most fans wish will depart and move to Houston.

First up, let’s talk about Chip Kelly

Background

Current position: Ohio State offensive coordinator

Previous coaching experience: UCLA head coach (2018-2023), Oregon head coach (2009-2012), Oregon offensive coordinator (2007-08)

NFL experience: Philadelphia Eagles head coach (2013-15), San Francisco 49ers head coach (2016).

Pros

Kelly is the hottest name on the market and is expected to draw interest from multiple teams. Tampa Bay just lost Liam Coen to the Jacksonville Jaguars and should be all over the Buckeyes’ play-caller.

Most in Columbus believe that if Kelly was offered an NFL job tomorrow he’d take it. He also doesn’t seem inclined to become a head coach at the college level again, so there’s a strong chance his loyalty remains with the program until an NFL team comes knocking.

There’s proof of concept with Kelly’s system. The Buckeyes are coming off a national championship in Kelly’s first season and dominated each opponent en route to Atlanta.

Last season in the booth, Kelly’s offense ranked 12th in scoring (37.5 points per game), 28th in total yards (429.4 yards per game) and 31st out of 134 teams in red-zone scoring (88.7%).

There’s also connections to head coach DeMeco Ryans. During his final years, Kelly coached Ryans in Philadelphia, naming him a team captain for 2014 and 2015.

During his opening press conference in 2023, Ryans mentioned Kelly as a mentor and a reason why he wanted to get into coaching.

“He was a master motivator, but he was always an innovator,” Ryans said. “Chip Kelly, he was always on the cutting edge. Always looking for ways to get better with sports science, technology.”

Cons

Kelly might not want to leave Columbus. Much like Ryans, he was a mentor to current Buckeyes coach Ryan Day when the two worked in New Hampshire.

When Kelly wanted to leave Los Angeles, Day didn’t hesitate to bring him onto the staff. A year later, Ohio State won its first title since 2014.

There’s some comfort in staying in Columbus. The Buckeyes should remain a favorite to win the national title next season with the return of wide receivers Carnell Tate and Jeremah Smith.

Kelly also could factor into the success of former No. 1 overall QB recruit Julian Sayin, who’s expected to win the starting job in place of Will Howard. Sayin has all the tools to become one of the nation’s top passers while competing for a Heisman Trophy.

Another job available might also entice Kelly over Houston. Pete Carroll recently was hired by Las Vegas. Despite their brief rivalry in the Pac-10, the 73-year-old needs a play-caller.

Caroll turns 74 this season. How long do you think he’ll coach before eventually calling it a career? Kelly could be groomed under his watch to eventually take over as early as 2026.

Tampa also could be promising since Kelly’s system best fits a player like Baker Mayfield. The mobility of the former No. 1 overall pick adds a second layer to the play-calling that only enhances the offense.

Last season, Mayfield threw a career-high 41 touchdown passes and rushed for 378 yards while tacking on three more scores.

Much like Las Vegas, Tampa could eventually promote Kelly to head coach should Todd Bowles retire in the coming seasons. Ryans isn’t going anywhere after totaling 22 wins in his first two seasons.

Final Verdict

If the Texans can lure Kelly away from college, they should. He’s an offensive innovator who understands his resources and builds a system based on strengths.

Stroud would benefit from an offense that relies on an up-tempo approach while prioritizing the run game. Collins and potentially Stefon Diggs would feast in the passing game because of the concepts.

But something seems off. While Kelly could make a run back to the pros, something feels like Tampa is calling. Working with Mayfield might seem like a better overall fit for his offense to take another step forward.

Right now, Houston and Tampa feel like the favorites to land him. Even Jacksonville could make a run for Kelly since Coen’s offense basically stems from the same baseline as the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator.

It’s hard to imagine Kelly not leaving Columbus, but if betting on Kelly or the field to arrive at NRG Stadium next season, lean toward the field.

Even if working with Stroud is enticing.

Chances of hiring: 25%