Will Howard’s abysmal outing at NFL Combine has fans calling him out – “Worst combine performance ever?”

Ohio State QB Will Howard, the 2024 College National Champion, struggled with several missed passes during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indiana.

Will Howard’s abysmal outing at NFL Combine has fans calling him out – “Worst combine performance ever?”

Will Howard had a bad day at the NFL Combine (Image via IMAGO)

Will Howard will go down as a college football champion in the history books. However, he has failed to improve his draft stocks since then. He was never in the mix for the Heisman trophy despite leading Ohio State to a national title, let alone being a top draft pick.

A satisfactory performance during the NFL Combine could have helped him catch the eyes of NFL scouts. However, when the opportunity arrived, Howard fell flat.

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On Saturday, quarterbacks were scheduled to take part in throwing drills. One by one, Miami’s Cam Ward, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Ole Miss’ Jaxon Dart, and Texas’ Quinn Ewers showcased their arm talent to the NFL representatives. Howard took the center stage and threw passes to receivers, but almost all of them were off the mark by quite some distance.

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Football fans claim Will Howard’s NFL Combine performance was the worst ever by a quarterback

Howard started off the Combine on the right track. The 23-year-old posted a 31.5” vertical jump and 9’4” broad jump during the on-field drills. However, he was constantly booed by the crowd while he attempted the throwing drills. It was a unique situation; perhaps the local Indiana crowd doesn’t see Howard, an Ohio State QB, in a favorable light.

Will Howard's abysmal outing at NFL Combine has fans calling him out - "Worst combine performance ever?"
Will Howard (Image via IMAGO)

On top of it, Howard didn’t throw to his usual receivers, Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith. This might have put pressure on Howard, who usually has presented himself as a cool customer in the past. This goes to show the Buckeyes receivers are some of the best in the country, and Howard benefitted from them during the college football season.

Regardless of what the fans believe, Howard’s fellow quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, defended him, reminding everyone that it’s not easy to throw to new people without practice.

Howard measured in at 6’4” and 236 pounds while having 9” hands and an arm length of 32”, placing him in the same category as Super Bowl winner Nick Foles, according to draft specialist Daniel Jeremiah.

Even though the Combine didn’t go according to Howard’s plans, he can still showcase his skills during Pro Day. Howard spent a total of five seasons in college: four with Kansas State before transferring to Ohio State in 2024. He completed a total of 9,796 yards with 83 touchdowns and 35 interceptions across his collegiate career.

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