Indiana University Athletics
Chicago Bears Select Howard in Fifth Round of NFL Draft
4/30/2016 2:55:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Chicago Bears selected Indiana running back Jordan Howard in the fifth round (150th overall pick) of the 2016 NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon at the Auditorium Theater of Roosevelt University in Chicago.
Howard is the second Hoosier drafted, as the Green Bay Packers picked offensive lineman Jason Spriggs in the second round (48th overall pick) on Friday. He is the seventh IU standout selected by the Bears and the first since quarterback Tim Clifford and running back Lonnie Johnson in 1981.
The Gardendale, Ala., native will join former Hoosier cornerback Tracy Porter in Chicago. Along with Tevin Coleman, who was drafted in the third round by the Atlanta Falcons in 2015, this is the first time since 1990-92 (Anthony Thompson, Ernie Thompson and Vaughn Dunbar) Indiana running backs have been taken in consecutive drafts.
A first team All-Big Ten selection, Howard entered the bowl season second in the Big Ten with 134.8 rushing yards per game (9th nationally) and 146.6 all-purpose yards per game (15th). He helped the Hoosiers earn a trip to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl and finished the year with 1,213 rushing yards (3rd in Big Ten; 30th nationally) on 196 carries (3rd), a 6.2 average (3rd; 26th), with nine rushing touchdowns and 10 total TDs despite missing 22 quarters of action.
Howard became the 11th Hoosier (16th time) to reach 1,000 yards and is 12th on the program's all-time single-season list.
He closed out his career with 17 100-yard games, including in 10 of his last 13, and 12 150-yarders. He had six 100-yarders, five 150-yarders (T-4th nationally) and two 200-yarders (T-5th) in 2015, is fifth on the school's single-season list in 100-yard games and shares fourth in 150-yard and 200-yard games.
Indiana finished 2015 first in total offense, passing offense and scoring offense, while placing second in rushing offense in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers became the first team since Ohio State in 1995 to lead the league in total, passing and scoring offense.
IU led the Big Ten in scoring offense for the first time since the league began using the entire season as the statistical champion in 1985. Indiana had not led the league in total offense since 1988.
The Hoosiers became the fourth college football team to have a 3,500-yard passer, a pair of 1,000-yard running backs and a 1,000-yard receiver in the same year. IU was also one of only two Power Five conference teams with two 1,000-yard running backs (Baylor).
Howard is the second Hoosier drafted, as the Green Bay Packers picked offensive lineman Jason Spriggs in the second round (48th overall pick) on Friday. He is the seventh IU standout selected by the Bears and the first since quarterback Tim Clifford and running back Lonnie Johnson in 1981.
The Gardendale, Ala., native will join former Hoosier cornerback Tracy Porter in Chicago. Along with Tevin Coleman, who was drafted in the third round by the Atlanta Falcons in 2015, this is the first time since 1990-92 (Anthony Thompson, Ernie Thompson and Vaughn Dunbar) Indiana running backs have been taken in consecutive drafts.
A first team All-Big Ten selection, Howard entered the bowl season second in the Big Ten with 134.8 rushing yards per game (9th nationally) and 146.6 all-purpose yards per game (15th). He helped the Hoosiers earn a trip to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl and finished the year with 1,213 rushing yards (3rd in Big Ten; 30th nationally) on 196 carries (3rd), a 6.2 average (3rd; 26th), with nine rushing touchdowns and 10 total TDs despite missing 22 quarters of action.
Howard became the 11th Hoosier (16th time) to reach 1,000 yards and is 12th on the program's all-time single-season list.
He closed out his career with 17 100-yard games, including in 10 of his last 13, and 12 150-yarders. He had six 100-yarders, five 150-yarders (T-4th nationally) and two 200-yarders (T-5th) in 2015, is fifth on the school's single-season list in 100-yard games and shares fourth in 150-yard and 200-yard games.
Indiana finished 2015 first in total offense, passing offense and scoring offense, while placing second in rushing offense in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers became the first team since Ohio State in 1995 to lead the league in total, passing and scoring offense.
IU led the Big Ten in scoring offense for the first time since the league began using the entire season as the statistical champion in 1985. Indiana had not led the league in total offense since 1988.
The Hoosiers became the fourth college football team to have a 3,500-yard passer, a pair of 1,000-yard running backs and a 1,000-yard receiver in the same year. IU was also one of only two Power Five conference teams with two 1,000-yard running backs (Baylor).
Players Mentioned
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