Ohio State Dealt Bad News on Projected $3 Million Highly Touted Quarterback
The Ohio State Buckeyes have been attempting to gain some traction on landing a new star quarterback in the 2026 college football recruiting class. Unfortunately, it looks like things are trending in the wrong direction for the top rated quarterback in the country. As for next season, the Buckeyes are headed towards a quarterback competition with Will Howard entering the NFL draft. Former 5-star signal-caller Julian Sayin appears to be the early favorite to be the next Ohio State QB1. Yet, the Buckeyes quarterback will face plenty of competition in the coming months, including from 5-star freshman Tavien St. Clair. Looking towards the future, Ohio State was dealt some bad news when it comes to a 2026 recruiting target. Nashville Christian’s Jared Curtis has narrowed his list down to two college football programs, and the Buckeyes did not make the final cut. On3.com’s Hayes Fawcett reported on Saturday that Curtis is now only considering the Oregon Ducks and Georgia Bulldogs.
Previously, On3 projected Ohio State as the favorite to land Curtis giving the Buckeyes a 39.5% chance to sign the quarterback compared to Georgia’s 29.5%. Members of the Ohio State coaching staff FaceTimed Curtis from Atlanta, Ga., after winning the national championship.
“It’s awesome to show that love and for them to go out there and win it all!” Curtis told On3’s Steve Wiltfong on Jan. 20. “I think they went out this year and showed what they can do and I think they are going to only get better!”
On3 projects Curtis’ current NIL value is $3 million, posing a hefty price tag for whoever lands the No. 1 rated quarterback in the 2026 class.
An NFL prospect can make Ohio State football’s Ryan Day even more appealing to quarterbacks
 Ohio — The NFL Scouting Combine has a lore to it that may seem far-from-intriguing to those outside the league’s circle and the media covering it.
A week of people standing in front of microphones, eating shrimp cocktails and running in – to be frank – underwear doesn’t seem like the ideal setting for determining the best prospects in football.
Still, there’s no denying its importance, particularly to programs such as Ohio State and players such as quarterback Will Howard.
The NFL Draft provides marketing material for college football teams, and it provides life-changing opportunities for athletes. A key part of that journey takes place in Indianapolis each year, and this week is no different.
Howard has a chance to assert himself as one of the most overlooked quarterbacks in his class, and with that, he has an opportunity to add another feather to Ryan Day’s hat.
Ohio State’s coach has repeatedly shown he’s a quarterback guru, but if Howard has a strong week and surges up big boards, Day could reach a new milestone: Turning a one-year portal rental into an NFL Draft pick.
