Indiana University Athletics
Howard Still Has Something To Prove
11/20/2015 11:49:00 AM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Jordan Howard—somehow—still isn't satisfied.
He wasn't after starting the season as the nation's leading rusher before an ankle injury held him out of 10 quarters and ruined his chances of finishing among the country's best in total yards.
He still wasn't even after rushing for 174 yards and two touchdowns against Iowa's formerly top-ranked rush defense. Formerly, as in Howard's individual performance ballooned the Hawkeyes' numbers.
Even after rushing for 238 yards and two touchdowns against Michigan's No. 1-ranked scoring defense, nearly leading the Hoosiers to an upset victory in the process all while becoming the Big Ten's leading rusher at 149.9 yards per game—nope.
Still not good enough.
"He's a guy who doesn't take compliments well," running backs coach Deland McCullough said. "He feels like there's so much more he can do."
Howard is an example of when perfectionist meets hypercritical student of the game. Nothing he does is ever enough in his mind because there's always something he could have done differently.
He's chasing unobtainable flawlessness.
During team meetings, he'll watch himself cut up the field on film for a 15-yard gain and shake his head.
"I could have made this cut instead of that one," Howard will say, completely serious. "Maybe I would have picked up a few more yards."
McCullough said he has a room full of Jordan Howards now. His running backs don't hand out compliments or celebrate much of anything. The occasional "good run" is about all they'll get out of each other.
Like Howard, they all expect nothing short of being the best.
"Nothing is ever enough for him," McCullough said. "He established in our room quickly that he has high standards for himself. Now, everybody in our room holds themselves to those same standards."
Howard made the jump to Indiana and the Big Ten conference after UAB discontinued its football program during the offseason. He came to Bloomington expecting to win and prove he's one of the best running backs in the country.
"I want to show people I can play with anybody," Howard said, pausing. "I haven't yet."
That last part is where Howard continues to lose his teammates, coaches and competitors who see him play every week.
He's ran for 490 yards and averaged 7.2 yards per carry over the last three weeks against top-20 rush defenses from Michigan State, Iowa and Michigan, doubling their previous per-carry allowance in the process. He's fit right in at Indiana, quickly gathering local and national media attention for his combination of power and speed as he racks up hundreds of yards each week.
What's left to prove?
"I still feel like people doubt me sometimes," Howard said. "They think maybe I'm not that good."
Howard isn't trying to sound arrogant or unappreciative of what he's accomplished. It's just part of who he is.
McCullough said it might stem from Howard only having one scholarship offer out of high school. He was overlooked then and doesn't want to be missed when he one day tries to transition into the NFL.
"He's got a perpetual chip on his shoulder," McCullough said. "And he's better because of it."
After each game, Howard will turn on his phone and scroll through his Twitter mentions to read all his fans' congratulatory messages. There's normally a few dozen, but he tries to respond to every single one of them.
"@jhoward_8 is an absolute warrior," one fan writes.
"Thank you," Howard responds.
"Hats off sir, amazing game. You ran through our defense," a Michigan fan Tweets.
"Thank you a lot," Howard Tweets back.
Nearly every Tweet in Howard's feed is the same. He thanks just about every fan who sent a kind word his way with a short message back. He started responding to Tweets when he was at UAB and carried the transition with him up north to Indiana.
He wants fans to know he hears their appreciation.
It's just not enough yet.
"My whole thing was just come here and play as hard as you can play and let the numbers, wins and losses speak for themselves," McCullough said. "He's somebody who feels like he can do more. Who's going to stop him?"
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Jordan Howard—somehow—still isn't satisfied.
He wasn't after starting the season as the nation's leading rusher before an ankle injury held him out of 10 quarters and ruined his chances of finishing among the country's best in total yards.
He still wasn't even after rushing for 174 yards and two touchdowns against Iowa's formerly top-ranked rush defense. Formerly, as in Howard's individual performance ballooned the Hawkeyes' numbers.
Even after rushing for 238 yards and two touchdowns against Michigan's No. 1-ranked scoring defense, nearly leading the Hoosiers to an upset victory in the process all while becoming the Big Ten's leading rusher at 149.9 yards per game—nope.
Still not good enough.
"He's a guy who doesn't take compliments well," running backs coach Deland McCullough said. "He feels like there's so much more he can do."
Howard is an example of when perfectionist meets hypercritical student of the game. Nothing he does is ever enough in his mind because there's always something he could have done differently.
He's chasing unobtainable flawlessness.
During team meetings, he'll watch himself cut up the field on film for a 15-yard gain and shake his head.
"I could have made this cut instead of that one," Howard will say, completely serious. "Maybe I would have picked up a few more yards."
McCullough said he has a room full of Jordan Howards now. His running backs don't hand out compliments or celebrate much of anything. The occasional "good run" is about all they'll get out of each other.
Like Howard, they all expect nothing short of being the best.
"Nothing is ever enough for him," McCullough said. "He established in our room quickly that he has high standards for himself. Now, everybody in our room holds themselves to those same standards."
Howard made the jump to Indiana and the Big Ten conference after UAB discontinued its football program during the offseason. He came to Bloomington expecting to win and prove he's one of the best running backs in the country.
"I want to show people I can play with anybody," Howard said, pausing. "I haven't yet."
That last part is where Howard continues to lose his teammates, coaches and competitors who see him play every week.
He's ran for 490 yards and averaged 7.2 yards per carry over the last three weeks against top-20 rush defenses from Michigan State, Iowa and Michigan, doubling their previous per-carry allowance in the process. He's fit right in at Indiana, quickly gathering local and national media attention for his combination of power and speed as he racks up hundreds of yards each week.
What's left to prove?
"I still feel like people doubt me sometimes," Howard said. "They think maybe I'm not that good."
Howard isn't trying to sound arrogant or unappreciative of what he's accomplished. It's just part of who he is.
McCullough said it might stem from Howard only having one scholarship offer out of high school. He was overlooked then and doesn't want to be missed when he one day tries to transition into the NFL.
"He's got a perpetual chip on his shoulder," McCullough said. "And he's better because of it."
After each game, Howard will turn on his phone and scroll through his Twitter mentions to read all his fans' congratulatory messages. There's normally a few dozen, but he tries to respond to every single one of them.
"@jhoward_8 is an absolute warrior," one fan writes.
"Thank you," Howard responds.
"Hats off sir, amazing game. You ran through our defense," a Michigan fan Tweets.
"Thank you a lot," Howard Tweets back.
Nearly every Tweet in Howard's feed is the same. He thanks just about every fan who sent a kind word his way with a short message back. He started responding to Tweets when he was at UAB and carried the transition with him up north to Indiana.
He wants fans to know he hears their appreciation.
It's just not enough yet.
"My whole thing was just come here and play as hard as you can play and let the numbers, wins and losses speak for themselves," McCullough said. "He's somebody who feels like he can do more. Who's going to stop him?"
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