I don't think I've ever seen a runner like him. He is almost guaranteed to get four, five yards a carry even when the defense knows he's getting the ball. He runs through traffic and over people, and he never goes down on initial contact. He also is capable of breaking out of the pack and going the distance. He is fast; not sure why some observers say he isn't that fast. The key will be what he does against Ohio State, because if he goes for 100-plus against them, how could he not be a Heisman candidate? The reason Tevin Coleman didn't get the attention he deserved was because we were 4-8, even though he ran for 300 against the Buckeyes. Also, Amir Abdullah and Melvin Gordon were in the same conference. Ezekiel Elliott was touted in preseason as a Heisman candidate, so that will be a good competition. I think we may need to win eight, nine games for Howard to be considered. However we got him to go to IU after UAB dropped football was one of the most significant recruiting wins in IU history.
Jordan Howard is one of the best players in the country
- Thread starter IUNY
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I agree.
Was in Bham prepping for the Bham Bowl when he committed. UAB fans, and even Florida coaches, had good things to say about the pickup. He's better than I expected.
Was in Bham prepping for the Bham Bowl when he committed. UAB fans, and even Florida coaches, had good things to say about the pickup. He's better than I expected.
I like him. A lot. But he hasn't yet shown that he can break out of a pack and go the distance. He's been caught every time. Still plenty of time to show it. Solid defenses the rest of the way.
How did he get ignored by all of the SEC schools & end up at UAB in the
first place? It seems the area where Jordan is from needs some
attention from our recruiting staff, no doubt there are other above average
players that have been overlooked.
I don't think he has to have breakaway speed when he's shown he can churn. Fans want the breakaway because we came to expect it with Coleman. However, he has (so far) something Coleman didn't: power running.
Not sure that isn't a bad trade off.
Another ting about Howard is that he can carry the ball 31 ties where it seemed like Coleman with his condition had to come out a lot of the game after only a few carries.
He ran a 4.39 40-yard-dash in the spring, and he's 6-1, 230. That's fast.
I like Coleman but given the choice of one or the other I would take Howard. Coleman was more likely to break a long one but Howard is a possession back. He will keep the chains moving.
Power and shifty, he is just not a bull rusher, he has the patience to look for the lane then powers through the lane.
Rewatch the BG game from last year and tell me Tevin wasn't a powerful back. It's not his fault nobody was ever around to truck. Not saying Howard isn't more powerful, just pointing out Tevin was a well-rounded back.
