Breaking news: Ohio State Buckeyes Avoided Trouble by Not Landing This Quarterback

Ohio State Buckeyes Avoided Trouble by Not Landing This Quarterback

The Ohio State Buckeyes were lucky to land Will Howard instead of this quarterback in the transfer portal.

The Ohio State Buckeyes were lucky to acquire former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard through the transfer portal this offseason.

Although Howard has performed well in his first two starts for the Buckeyes, the team’s situation could have been more challenging if head coach Ryan Day had secured quarterback Riley Leonard instead through the portal.

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Ohio State Buckeyes Dodged A Bullet By Not Getting This Quarterback

The Ohio State Buckeyes were lucky to land Will Howard instead of this quarterback in the transfer portal.

Dylan Feltovich | 4 Hours Ago

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) passes at Notre Dame spring football practice Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the Irish Athletics Center in South Bend.

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) passes at Notre Dame spring football practice Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the Irish Athletics Center in South Bend. / GREG SWIERCZ / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes were fortunate to land former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard via the transfer portal this offseason.

While Howard has been efficient in his first two starts in the scarlet and gray, the team could have been in a worse situation if head coach Ryan Day landed quarterback Riley Leonard in the portal.

Coming out of high school, Leonard was a three-star prospect that received offers from multiple power-four schools. He would ultimately decide on Duke University and broke out on the college football scene in 2022. The 6-foot-4, 215 lbs quarterback threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for 699 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The hype from his first full season as the Blue Devils caught the attention of many, and Leonard would carry the solid play into the 2023 season. Despite missing the last five games due to an ankle injury, the dual-threat quarterback helped lead Duke to another successful season.

Leonard entered the transfer portal after last season and had plans to visit Ohio State, along with Notre Dame and Auburn. However, following his visit to South Bend, the No. 9 ranked quarterback in the 2024 transfer portal class committed to the Fighting Irish.

Expectations were high for Leonard this season, as Notre Dame was seen as a significant step up from Duke’s developing program. However, the rising star has been somewhat disappointing in his first two starts. So far in 2024, Leonard has thrown for 321 yards with one interception and was the starting quarterback during the Fighting Irish’s loss to Northern Illinois.

To add to the challenges, Leonard has reportedly injured his non-throwing shoulder, according to On3.

Although the veteran quarterback is expected to play this weekend, Leonard’s dual-threat playing style continues to make him vulnerable to potential missed time. Leonard and the No. 18 ranked Fighting Irish will face tough challenges throughout the rest of the season, but it’s clear the Buckeyes made the right choice in the transfer portal by landing Howard.