PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Could Will Howard really become the Steelers starting quarterback? Most would probably say no and that’s ok with him, he’s used to that.
Coming out of high school in Downingtown, Howard was a three-star recruit, among his final list of college opportunities were Bowling Green and Harvard. He was offered by Harvard and Yale, which tells you a lot about the entirety of the man, but it’s not where top quarterbacks go to play.
“That’s the story of my life,” Howard said Friday after his first walk-through as a member of the Steelers.
Howard took an offer at Kansas State and months later became a starter in the Big 12. In his first start against TCU, had an 80-yard run and was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week. The 6’4” right-hander set the school record in passing touchdowns by a freshman. He would fight back from losing his job to his now Steelers teammate Skylar Thompson and lead Kansas State to a Big 12 title in 2022. Last year he transferred to Ohio State for a final season, overcame a horrible loss to Michigan, and won a national championship.
“The things that I went through and I learned how to push through adversity,” Howard said. “How to come back from bad things. That gave me a pretty hard head. I got a chip on my shoulder and I like to carry that with me.”
It was Howard’s dealing with adversity after the loss to Michigan that really caught Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s interest. It was the leadership he showed that made him ‘really attractive’. Tomlin felt that moment, and the games following, defined who he is as a player. Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said he saw Howard not only deal with he adversity, but then go on to play his best football in games that are the closest as you can get to NFL football.
Howard believes God had a plan for him to be with the Steelers and with Tomlin.
“I couldn’t be in a better place,” Howard said. “The Steelers are built on blue-collar and that’s how I like to play. That’s how I like to be about.”
Howard said he’s spent time since he was drafted just studying the playbook. He wants to be as ready as he can be for whatever opportunity presents itself.
Those opportunities could vary from fighting with Thompson again, but this time to be the third string quarterback with the Steelers. Or it could be a chance to be the back-up and one play away from being the Steelers quarterback.
“I’m blessed,” Howard said. “I couldn’t be in a better place. Pittsburgh is going to get my all, each and every day.”
He had to wait until the sixth round to get this chance. He’s taken advantage of every scenario in front of him previously. Let’s see how this plays out.