A PITTSBURGH Steelers player who was selected in the NFL Draft this year dealt with sick death threats.
The revelation was made by ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit.
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Will Howard was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL DraftCredit: Getty
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He received death threats while at Ohio StateCredit: Alamy
Herbstreit, 55, was speaking about quarterback Will Howard.
The 23-year-old was selected in the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in April.
He played for the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2024 after a transfer from Kansas State.
Howard led the Buckeyes to the national title and was named Offensive MVP of the championship game.
But during the regular-season, his Buckeyes lost to Big Ten rivals Oregon.
The Oregon Ducks ran out 32-31 winners in the game on October 12.
Herbstreit watched plenty of the Ohio State Buckeyes during his role as a commentator and analyst for ESPN.
He appeared on The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk.
The show was filmed in front of an audience of around 300 people where Herbstreit went to high school in Centerville, Ohio.
“Will Howard, he took a knee against Oregon,” Herbstreit said.
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“He played his a** off at Oregon.
“He took a knee because he lost the time and he took death threats.
“It’s so insane that these people have a voice to get to you.
“And you have just got to somehow insulate yourself the best you can because it is brutal.”
Howard and the Buckeyes avenged the loss with victory in the playoffs.
Ohio State beat Oregon 41-21 on New Year’s Day at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
“It’s not easy what you guys are dealing with,” Herbstreit said to the audience.
“And I don’t mean just sports – I’m talking social stuff.
“You get to college football, you are playing on national TV, you miss a field goal when the game is on the line, you get death threats.
“Death threats. That is real.”