COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State quarterback Will Howard had his first blemish of the season in Saturday’s win against Marshall.
On a vertical route to freshman Jeremiah Smith, Howard appeared to underthrow the ball.
Instead of giving Smith a chance to make another highlight play, the pass was intercepted by Marshall defensive back Josh Moten.
The blame might not belong to Howard, though. After speaking with receivers coach Brian Hartline, Smith learned his route wasn’t precise.
“That was on me,” Smith said Wednesday. “My split was too wide. He wanted me to cut my split down. That was on me. That wasn’t on Will.”
Postgame, Howard detailed why he felt the throw to Smith was his only option on the play.
“Sometimes things happen,” Howard said. “Looking at it, the boundary was clouded, so I couldn’t throw the boundary. We were max protected, so I had three routes. It was that or my vertical wrap. My vertical wrap was covered. So (Smith) was really the only option I had. The plan all week was let that thing rip and put it on a spot.”
The play resulted in an interception, but it still provided a reminder of Ohio State’s trust in the star freshman receiver.
“(Howard) tells me a lot each and every day, ‘If you’re single covered, one-on-one, I’m going to you no matter who’s on you. I doesn’t matter, I’m just throwing it up.’” Smith said. “I’ve just got to make a play, that’s all.”
It’s a role Smith says he didn’t expect in his first season.
“My mentality was coming in, just working, learning, just play special teams and make plays on special teams,” Smith said. “That’s all my mentality was.”
