Steve Sarkisian knows exactly what he is up against as the Texas Longhorns prepare to go head-to-head with the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl.
The Buckeyes have a slew of players who be early selections in the 2025 NFL Draft and in the NFL Draft for years to follow as a team that has a huge NFL pipeline. And one of the most difficult of those to defend is Ohio State quarterback Will Howard.
Sarkisian commended the type of football IQ that Howard brings to the table, also mentioning his accuracy and underrated athleticism. Like Joe Burrow used to refer to himself as, some may say that Howard is “sneaky fast.”
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“He’s a much better athlete than people give him credit for,” Sarkisian said. “He snapped off a 70-yard touchdown run against us a few years ago, so he has good speed. He’s got great poise and composure in the pocket.”
Howard will enter this game directly off of a dominant victory over formerly No. 1-ranked Oregon in which he continued to shine, completing 17 of his 26 passing attempts for 319 yards with three touchdowns in that 41-21 win.