After Will Howard's inconsistent combine performance, Sanders backed the quarterback who guided Ohio State to the first 12-team College Football Playoff national championship.
After receiving applause and shouts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Howard botched numerous deep throws during Saturday's passing drills.
“I'm my own biggest critic, so I feel like there were some things I could clean up,” Howard told NFL Network. Overall, I showed I can spin the ball best. I felt okay about it. I thought my footwork was good."
Sanders noted that Howard was not throwing to his customary receivers. Howard's top target in 2024 was Ohio State's all-time career receptions leader, Emeka Egbuka. Egbuka, a projected first-round choice, skipped combine drills.
Jeremiah Smith set a Buckeyes record with 1,315 receiving yards and 15 touchdown catches as a freshman. Naturally, Smith cannot enter the draft for two years.
Howard, who transferred to Ohio State last year, had good receivers in his one season as starter. He also threw the title-winning 56-yard bomb to Smith on third-and-11 in the national championship game, hitting his receiver in stride.
Howard won the MVP award that night after completing a College Football Playoff Championship record 13 straight throws (17-of-21 throwing for 231 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions).
Not only what Howard did after the ball was snapped mattered. Ohio State coach Ryan Day told FOX Sports' lead college football game commentator Joel Klatt, "Will was a fantastic leader. He was looking them in the eye as they broke the huddle, and they believed in him."