Preseason training camp continued at Ohio State on Saturday as the Buckeyes held their third practice, putting on shoulder pads for the first time this month. With reporters in attendance, here are some notes and observations from practice:

Will Howard showed off his legs

One of the practice’s biggest highlights came when Howard, the experienced transfer quarterback from Kansas State, broke loose and ran for at least 80 yards.

Along with the rest of the passers, Howard was wearing a non-contact jersey, meaning he was not touched much as he approached the end zone, but the sequence still offered a glimpse of his speed moving down the sideline.

Howard was a threat as a runner the last four years with the Wildcats, rushing for 921 yards and 19 touchdowns between 2020 and 2023, and figures to give the Buckeyes an added element if he secures the starting job ahead of the Aug. 31 opener against Akron.

Four quarterbacks rotate

When the Buckeyes were together for the final 11-on-11 period, Howard began the rotation of quarterbacks.

He was followed in order by Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz and Julian Sayin. Freshman Air Noland, the only other scholarship quarterback, did not take reps in that last period.

Howard looked crisp as he completed a variety of short to intermediate passes in the last period. Only one of his six passes fell to the turf, a drop by Gee Scott Jr. that prompted the tight end to run a lap.

One of the splashier throws came from Brown who lofted a deeper pass over the middle that was completed when Emeka Egbuka laid out to catch it.

On the other end, Sayin was intercepted by Caleb Downs, the All-America safety transfer from Alabama, who picked off the pass after it was deflected by cornerback Jordan Hancock.

More: How soon could Ohio State football name a starting quarterback in preseason training camp?

Seth McLaughlin snaps one high

As the starting center at Alabama last season, McLaughlin had issues snapping.

Those hiccups have not appeared to plague him since he transferred to Ohio State in January, and Buckeyes coach Ryan Day in March chalked them up to the cadence of Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe, but he had a bad snap late in the latest practice.

Snapping to Howard in the last 11-on-11 period, McLaughlin hiked the ball over Howard’s head.

While he ran a lap in the aftermath, Carson Hinzman replaced him as the center with the first-team offensive line.

Right guards rotate

When practice began, Tegra Tshabola lined up as the right guard between McLaughlin at center and Josh Fryar at right tackle, two offensive linemen who project to start.

But in the last 11-on-11 period, as the Buckeyes were all together, Hinzman went out as the right guard with the first-team offense.

It was the second straight practice in which Hinzman was available after he was out with an illness when camp opened on Thursday.

Another spot for Luke Montgomery

Along with being in the mix to start at right guard, the only start spot on the offensive line that was vacated this offseason, Montgomery has taken reps at center, including snapping to Howard with the first team.

A sophomore from Findlay who was a top-100 prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, he competed with Fryar to start at right tackle last year.

Caleb Downs returning punts

In a special teams period midway through practice, Downs was among eight players who lined up to field punts.

Downs was not the Alabama’s primary returner last year, but he took one 85 yards for a touchdown against Chattanooga and the Buckeyes have discussed ways to make sure he is involved as a playmaker.

Jermaine Mathews Jr. taking nickel reps

While Lorenzo Styles Jr. remains limited recovering from a shoulder injury, cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. has continued to take reps as a nickel safety, along with Hancock.

Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles on Friday raised concerns about the Buckeyes’ depth at nickel and has been looking to make more defensive backs familiar with the position.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @joeyrkaufman or email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football preseason camp: Highlights from third practice