Will Howard sits in his stocking cap and lavender Wildcats hoodie in a purple-walled meeting room on the fourth floor of the Vanier Family Football Complex. Saturday afternoon has slipped into Saturday evening, and a couple hours have passed since he threw his 45th career touchdown pass. Nobody in the history of Kansas State football has thrown more touchdowns, so Howard stands alone. At the moment, he sits as the lone player in this room, and he is handed a cellphone that he holds in both hands.
He instantly smiles, as a video message by close friend and tight end Ben Sinnott begins to play.
“What’s up, man?” Sinnott says. “Just wanted to congratulate you on passing the all-time touchdown passing record. It’s been a long ride since we got here in 2020, a lot of ups and downs, so just wanted to wish you congratulations. Love you, man.”
More messages follow. Kade Warner and Adrian Martinez and Phillip Brooks and Will Swanson offer their congratulations. More video messages follow.
“What’s good, bro?” Deuce Vaughn says. “I wanted to reach out to you. Congratulations on breaking the Kansas State all-time passing touchdowns record. I can’t think of anybody else more deserving. I’m so proud of you, man, for the impact you’ve left on this team and this university will last a lifetime.”
DJ Giddens and Briley Moore offer their congratulations. There’s more.
“What’s up, Will?” Skylar Thompson says. “Just want to congratulate you on becoming the all-time leader in passing TDs. I’m super proud of you, bro. You’ve earned this, you’ve worked for it. Congratulations.”
Malik Knowles and Garrett Oakley and Jayce Brown and Daniel Imatorbhebhe send their congratulations.
Then, what is this?
“Congratulations, Will,” Bob and Maureen Howard say together. It’s Will’s parents. Bob is on the left and Maureen is on the right. Maureen wears a purple K-State hoodie. In the middle is their dog.
“We are so happy for you on this incredible accomplishment,” Maureen continues. “We are so proud of who you are on and off the field. We love you so much.”
Howard’s shoulders shake as he holds the phone. He presses a left balled-up fist to his mouth. Salty tears begin to flow. He looks up from the phone.
“This,” Howard says, “means the world.”
Familiar faces for a special moment pic.twitter.com/GRcMYlgrXU
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) November 12, 2023
He might as well have been sitting on a throne. He is the touchdown king in Manhattan. With a short touchdown pass to fullback Christian Moore in the second quarter of a 59-25 win over Baylor, Howard passed Josh Freeman for most touchdown passes in a career, a mark that has stood for 15 years. The new top-10 in passing touchdown reads as follows:
1. Will Howard (45)
2. Josh Freeman (44)
3. Skylar Thompson (42)
4. Jake Waters (40)
5. Ell Roberson (37)
6. Michael Bishop (36)
7. Chad May (34)
8. Jonathan Beasley (33)
9. Collin Klein (30)
10. Lynn Dickey (29).
Moments before Howard holds the cellphone, he speaks with reporters. His message? Gratitude.
“It’s an unbelievable honor,” Howard says. “I couldn’t have done it without all the guys in that locker room who’ve caught passes from me, the defense, all my team. I truly wouldn’t be able to do this without all my guys. I’m blessed. I’m grateful. It still really hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s crazy to think about, especially with all the stuff that I’ve kind of had to deal with here. I’m just so blessed and so privileged to be in the position I am. To just have this platform, it means the world, and I’m floored. It couldn’t mean more.”
Howard reaches the touchdown record in 25 starts. He achieves the mark under the guidance of offensive coordinator Collin Klein and with College Football Hall of Fame inductee Michael Bishop inside the stadium at this game — both Heisman Trophy finalists and regarded as two of the greatest quarterbacks in school history.
Howard’s career, the ups and downs, also is legendary at K-State.
In 2020, he was one of just four true freshman quarterbacks to make at least seven starts during the season. His eight touchdown passes set the single-season record by a freshman. In 2021, he threw one touchdown while backing up Skylar Thompson. Last season, he shared reps with Adrian Martinez, playing in seven games with six starts over the second half of the season, and throwing 15 touchdowns while helping lead the Wildcats to the Big 12 Championship and a berth in the Sugar Bowl.
This season, he has thrown 21 touchdowns with two regular-season games, a possible Big 12 title game and bowl game still to go. He needs five more touchdown passes to pass Ell Roberson for most in a single season.
“With all the greats to come through here, it’s a blessing,” Howard says. “I’m so thankful.”
Shortly after the start of the fourth quarter and after Howard goes to the sideline for good with the game at hand, it is announced that he has set the all-time mark for passing touchdowns.
“That was really cool,” he says. “Being surrounded by my teammates, I wouldn’t want to celebrate it any other way.”
The 6-foot-5, 242-pound native of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, who was rated as the 13th-best pro-style quarterback in the Class of 2020 by 247Sports, ranks top-10 in multiple statistical categories, including fifth in career passing yards (5,333), pass attempts (707), completions (421) and touchdowns responsible for (62).
This season, he has completed 182-of-285 (63.9%) of his passes for 2,190 yards with 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He threw a school record-tying four touchdowns at No. 7 Texas.
“The kid has battled through,” K-State head coach Chris Klieman says at his postgame news conference. “He and I had a lot of conversations this week. Couldn’t be more proud of a guy. He knows how much I love him. He knows how I feel about him. For him to have that record says an awful lot about what kind of player he is.”
Howard reflects upon his path, particularly when he threw a career-high three interceptions in a game at West Virginia in 2020.
“If you would’ve told an 18-year-old Will Howard who just threw three picks against West Virginia if he’d be standing here today, man, I’d probably told you that you were crazy,” he says.
Today, it’s not crazy. It’s reality. He’s holding a cellphone with video messages that celebrate his record-setting feat.
No quarterback has thrown as many touchdowns as Will Howard in a K-State uniform.
And he isn’t finished.
