The Wildcat-turned-Buckeye has been dealing with adversity for the entirety of his football career.

“I feel like my whole career I’ve been overlooked,” Howard said in a video from his pre-draft interviews. “I went to Kansas State and said, ‘I want to prove those people (the schools who didn’t offer him) wrong.’ When I get to the NFL, I don’t want you guys to miss out on me because every single team that picks a quarterback in front of me, I’m going to make it my mission to make sure they regret not picking me.”

Howard was the No. 8 quarterback selected in the NFL Draft out of 14 overall. The Cleveland Browns, a division rival of Howard’s Steelers, burned two picks on quarterbacks while Howard was still waiting to hear his name called.

Howard moved in at Kansas State during the COVID-19 pandemic and was benched during his time as a Wildcat. He then had to beat out the No. 1-rated (247 Sports) quarterback transfer Julian Sayin when he left for Ohio State. Despite all the obstacles in his way, Howard hoisted the National Championship trophy at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to close out his college career.

Howard will face more adversity in his rookie season with the Steelers, but he will have Rodgers there to mentor him.