COLUMBUS, Ohio — Former Ohio State quarterback Will Howard isn’t atop mock NFL Draft boards, but the reigning national champion believes he’s the best player at his position this year.
“I believe in myself,” Howard said Wednesday at OSU’s pro day. “It’s not a knock to any of the other quarterbacks, but I think I’m the best. I feel like if you don’t believe you’re the best to come out this year, then why am I doing this thing?
“I’m confident. I believe I have what it takes to be QB1 in the NFL. Whatever franchise takes me is not going to regret it.”
Howard received criticism via social media after his showing at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis four weeks ago.
However, he responded with a prolific pro day, completing 65 of his 67 passes, per a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
The two incompletions were likely drops while he also connected on impressive deep passes to Brandon Inniss and TreVeyon Henderson.
“I’m critical of myself,” Howard said. “It wasn’t perfect. But hey, I think we were almost perfect. It was fun. It was a good day.”
A collection of various mock drafts shows Howard as the No. 7 quarterback in this year’s class.
Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders are expected to go in the first round while Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Louisville’s Tyler Shough are behind them.
Howard hopes a strong pro day in front of 142 NFL representatives, including six head coaches and five general managers, can help him move up the charts.
“I think I did decent in Indy, but it was good to be back home throwing to my guys in the Woody (Hayes Athletic Center),” Howard said. “It’s fun.”