Indiana University Athletics
Howard Feels Ready After Pro Day Performance
4/8/2016 5:17:00 PM | Football
By: Tori Ziege | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Some might say there was pressure on Jordan Howard entering Indiana's Pro Day.
If there was, he didn't feel it.
The former Indiana running back prospect had yet run the 40-yard dash after forgoing the drill during February's NFL Combine. That meant eyes from all 32 NFL teams were eager to assess Howard's speed using a metric that — although often overstated — does merit some consideration at the running back position.
He clocked an unofficial time of 4.51 seconds, putting him right on par with other top-tier power backs in Ezekiel Elliot (4.47 seconds) and Heisman winner Derrick Henry (4.54 seconds).
"I was hoping to show them that I had more speed than they thought," Howard said.
Speed isn't the name of Howard's game. He's known best as the bulldozer, a moniker he received in pee wee football. It's been his hallmark ever since.
When the University of Alabama-Birmingham shut down its football program, Howard, its single-season rushing record-holder with 1,587 yards, found a new home at Indiana. He made the transition to a Power Five conference seamlessly, proving his ability to run roughshod over opposing Big Ten defenses with another 1,000-plus-yard, nine-touchdown season.
His coming out party came during Indiana's double-overtime game against Michigan, when he tore open the nation's No. 3 rush defense for two touchdowns and 238 yards before a television audience of more than 5 million.
Many sensed then, with such a stunning performance under the national spotlight, that this was the first time most pro-football pundits became aware of Howard's NFL potential.
They were right. Howard has received a mass of positive feedback from scouts, and has been told he could be drafted anywhere from the second to fourth round.
From a program in shambles, to a presumptive NFL Draft pick.
"Through it all, I might not have liked it, but it made me better in the long run," Howard said. "I feel like everything has paid off. It was a blessing in disguise."
Howard said hearing his name announced on draft day — which he will spend in the company of friends and family back home in Gardendale, Alabama — will be a dream come true.
But if he wants to preserve the longevity of that dream and his NFL career, he has to add a new facet to his game, speed, in order to avoid taking as many hits.
That's where Indiana running backs coach Deland McCullough comes in.
A former NFL running back himself, McCullough spent time last offseason in Atlanta Falcons training camp as part of the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship. He helped Howard with speed and agility training leading up to the combine, meeting with him three times a week to help familiarize him with the drills.
"He's been a very great help," Howard said. "He helped me make my decision, he's been giving me feedback from that he's heard back from scouts. He helped me pick my agent. He's just been very great, telling me to stay positive and that everything will work out."
There's no reason to believe it won't.
After dealing with a knee injury throughout 2015 that kept him from playing in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Howard said he is 100-percent healthy. Though the injury might be the reason if any that causes Howard to fall in the draft, consensus around the league is that the team that does pick the former Hoosiers back will be coming away with a steal.
Howard currently has plans to visit with the Panthers and Saints in the weeks leading up to the draft, which will be held April 28-30 in Chicago.
"I'm just trying to have a team fall in love with me," he said. "Just one team. That's all you need."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Some might say there was pressure on Jordan Howard entering Indiana's Pro Day.
If there was, he didn't feel it.
The former Indiana running back prospect had yet run the 40-yard dash after forgoing the drill during February's NFL Combine. That meant eyes from all 32 NFL teams were eager to assess Howard's speed using a metric that — although often overstated — does merit some consideration at the running back position.
He clocked an unofficial time of 4.51 seconds, putting him right on par with other top-tier power backs in Ezekiel Elliot (4.47 seconds) and Heisman winner Derrick Henry (4.54 seconds).
"I was hoping to show them that I had more speed than they thought," Howard said.
Speed isn't the name of Howard's game. He's known best as the bulldozer, a moniker he received in pee wee football. It's been his hallmark ever since.
When the University of Alabama-Birmingham shut down its football program, Howard, its single-season rushing record-holder with 1,587 yards, found a new home at Indiana. He made the transition to a Power Five conference seamlessly, proving his ability to run roughshod over opposing Big Ten defenses with another 1,000-plus-yard, nine-touchdown season.
His coming out party came during Indiana's double-overtime game against Michigan, when he tore open the nation's No. 3 rush defense for two touchdowns and 238 yards before a television audience of more than 5 million.
Many sensed then, with such a stunning performance under the national spotlight, that this was the first time most pro-football pundits became aware of Howard's NFL potential.
They were right. Howard has received a mass of positive feedback from scouts, and has been told he could be drafted anywhere from the second to fourth round.
From a program in shambles, to a presumptive NFL Draft pick.
"Through it all, I might not have liked it, but it made me better in the long run," Howard said. "I feel like everything has paid off. It was a blessing in disguise."
Howard said hearing his name announced on draft day — which he will spend in the company of friends and family back home in Gardendale, Alabama — will be a dream come true.
But if he wants to preserve the longevity of that dream and his NFL career, he has to add a new facet to his game, speed, in order to avoid taking as many hits.
That's where Indiana running backs coach Deland McCullough comes in.
A former NFL running back himself, McCullough spent time last offseason in Atlanta Falcons training camp as part of the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship. He helped Howard with speed and agility training leading up to the combine, meeting with him three times a week to help familiarize him with the drills.
"He's been a very great help," Howard said. "He helped me make my decision, he's been giving me feedback from that he's heard back from scouts. He helped me pick my agent. He's just been very great, telling me to stay positive and that everything will work out."
There's no reason to believe it won't.
After dealing with a knee injury throughout 2015 that kept him from playing in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Howard said he is 100-percent healthy. Though the injury might be the reason if any that causes Howard to fall in the draft, consensus around the league is that the team that does pick the former Hoosiers back will be coming away with a steal.
Howard currently has plans to visit with the Panthers and Saints in the weeks leading up to the draft, which will be held April 28-30 in Chicago.
"I'm just trying to have a team fall in love with me," he said. "Just one team. That's all you need."
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