K-State QB Howard enters transfer portal as grad

Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior WriterNov 27, 2023, 05:36 PM ET
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- College football reporter.
- Joined ESPN.com in 2008.
- Graduate of Northwestern University.

Kansas State quarterback Will Howard, who helped the team to a Big 12 title in 2022 and started games in each of the past four seasons, entered the transfer portal Monday as a graduate.

Howard led Kansas State with 2,643 passing yards and 24 touchdowns with eight interceptions this season, completing 61.3% of his passes. After sharing time with Adrian Martinez to begin the 2022 season, he emerged as the Wildcats’ top quarterback for their run to the conference title. Howard, who will have one year of eligibility left, has 5,786 career passing yards with 48 touchdowns — a team record — and 25 interceptions, as well as 934 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns.

Calling himself a “Wildcat for life” Howard took to social media Monday afternoon.

Thank you Wildcat Nation. For everything 💜 pic.twitter.com/C9SSz8xtAJ

— Will Howard (@whoward_) November 27, 2023

The Downingtown, Pennsylvania, native started the final seven games of his true freshman season in 2020, had three starts in 2021 and then five last season. Howard had uneven results for stretches this season, and freshman Avery Johnson emerged as a viable option alongside him, adding six rushing touchdowns and three passing touchdowns for the Wildcats (8-4). Johnson would be in line to start for Kansas State in 2024.

ESPN rated Howard as a three-star recruit in the 2020 class.