Howard To Impact Defense, Special Teams
Football
Justin Verrier
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Sports
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In fact, listed at 5-foot-9, 162 pounds, Howard is actually both the shortest and lightest player on the entire roster.
But what he does have is speed. And a lot of it.
Unquestionably one of the quickest players on the team, Howard's innate speed has not only moved him into the punt returner role vacated by the graduation of fan-favorite Larry Taylor, but it also has him primed to be one of the top three on the depth chart at cornerback in the fall.
With three-year starter Tyvon Branch now looking toward an NFL paycheck rather than West Virginia's spread offense, both Howard and Robert McClain have seen ample playing time with the first team throughout spring practices opposite Darius Butler, last season's starter on the left side of the field.
"He's not a big DB by any stretch," said defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos. "But he has incredible quickness, he's very athletic and has a knack to put himself in a position to make plays."
Early on in spring practices, Howard said the coaching staff tried out different combinations of the three perspective starters, mixing and matching them with other members of the defensive backfield to see who could perform best under pressure.
But pressure's something Howard knows all too well.
Having worked as a punt returner since his pop warner days, Howard said he's used to having all eyes on him.
"If I get an interception or pick up a fumble, that's the only time you get to touch the ball on defense," Howard said. "But at punt returner, I know I'm getting the ball and it's going to touch my hands so I can make a big play; I want to make a big play."
The coaches came away impressed with Howard's performance over the first few weeks, and now with Butler seeing more action of offense, the true freshman has seen his playing time increase recently.
Lakatos noted that Howard's progression has allowed the team to use several corners in a rotation rather than having two set starters and to employ certain players in certain packages and defenses.
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