For the second year in a row, Ohio State enters training camp on Thursday with an unsettled situation at quarterback.
A year ago, Kyle McCord prevailed over Devin Brown in a battle that extended into the season. But McCord transferred to Syracuse after the loss to Michigan, and Brown’s chance to stake a claim for the job ended when he was injured early in the Buckeyes’ Cotton Bowl loss to Missouri.
That prompted Ohio State to add Kansas State graduate transfer Will Howard. Howard began the spring as the favorite to win the job. As to be expected for someone in a new scheme with new teammates, Howard struggled some in the spring while Brown looked sharp.
Freshman Julian Sayin, a late addition to the recruiting class as a transfer from Alabama, impressed as well. Lincoln Kienholz, thrust into the Cotton Bowl before he was ready in relief of Brown, now has some experience. Freshman Air Noland was clearly fifth in the pecking order by the end of the spring.
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Buckeye coaches have made it clear it’s an open competition for the job, though Howard and Brown are the clear front-runners as the OSU prepares for its Aug. 31 opener against Akron.
“The first two weeks of preseason, I think we’ll have a better idea of where everybody is based on their knowledge of the offense,” coach Ryan Day said. “But some guys have really stepped up in the summer.”
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As they did in the spring, the Buckeyes will practice on more than one field early in camp so that each quarterback can get more reps.
New offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Chip Kelly said he has a picture of 2014 national championship hero Cardale Jones in the quarterback room as a reminder of the importance of backups being ready.
“Whoever isn’t the starter on the 31st, you can be fully aware that they’re going to be told the story of Cardale Jones,” Kelly said. “Just because you start on the 31st doesn’t mean you’re going to be the starter in January. People can get injured. A lot of things can happen, and we all know it’s going to be a really long season (with College Football Playoff expansion to 12 teams).”
Kelly said he is excited about all of his scholarship quarterbacks. Here’s what he said about each of them:
Will Howard
“What stands out as his work ethic. He tried to come in here and learn as fast as possible. He’s obviously talented physically. I was really impressed with how well he ran for such a big guy. He looks like your typical NFL dropback (quarterback), but he can pick ‘em up and put ‘em down. He can do both, and he’s worked really hard at both.
“Will is very, very good at being the same person every day. I think he’s got a really good demeanor about himself. I think he was a great addition to that room. He’s a fifth-year guy, so he’s got a lot of experience. That’s the one thing with the quarterback spot that you can’t manufacture in practice, because practice is totally different for a quarterback than a game because quarterbacks don’t get hit in practice.”
Asked if he believes Howard is fully caught up with the offense, Kelly said, “I really do. I’m excited to get back working with him. But I do feel he’s done everything he possibly can to be prepared for the season.”
Devin Brown
“Big arm. Really good knowledge of the system because he’s been in it now for so long. He has a great understanding and is a great resource in the room. If you go back two years ago and say, ‘We did it this way and then we changed,’ he’ll know why they changed so he can explain to the other guys in the room.
“Devin has the most experience in the Ohio State system, and you can tell that, but he’s really talented. He can run also, and he’s got a big arm, a really big arm.”
Lincoln Kienholz
“Great athlete. He is special athletically. He was a multi-sport guy – football, basketball, baseball – growing up in South Dakota. When the football season ended, he put the ball down and then didn’t pick it up until after baseball was over. He didn’t really have the exposure some of the other guys had (with) the year-round quarterback play and 7-on-7 tournaments nationwide and all those other things.
“I’m excited for him. He was not an early enrollee, so last summer was his first time on campus. He’s really just getting through a complete year cycle right now, but you can see him getting better every day and see him grow. There’s a lot to really like about Lincoln.”
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