DENVER — Jack Howell is a rising star.
In 10 games played this season the freshman safety recorded 64 total tackles (41 solo), four pass breakups and a pair of forced turnovers (one interception, one forced fumble), all of which are impressive numbers for someone in their first year in the system.
What stands out the most about Howell, even more than the stats, is the way he was always around the football. For a young player he has a tremendous feel for the game and displayed great instincts throughout the season. Howell is one of those safeties that just always seems to be in position to make a play.
In the 22-6 win over Toledo, Howell’s first career start, the true freshman exploded onto the scene with nine tackles. Along with Dequan Jackson and the linebackers, he was a big reason why the Rams were so dominant defensively that afternoon.
After the upset, Steve Addazio raved about Howell’s future, telling the press that he is going to be a hell of a player. The former Hamilton High School standout was then named freshman of the week by the Mountain West for his efforts. He later became the first freshman on offense or defense to receive the recognition twice in the same season after his 11 tackle performance against Hawaii.
Howell did not play in the season opener, which was odd considering the coaches raved about him all throughout training camp. He missed the season finale with an injury too. But over his last four games of the 2021 season, Howell finished with double digit tackles three times and the lowest number he recorded in those games was nine. In total he had 40 tackles, including a couple for loss over that stretch. He also recorded half of his PBU’s.
What the numbers back up is what anyone that watched him could see — as the season progressed, Howell’s confidence grew and his playmaking abilities were able to be put on display. There were some hiccups in pass coverage as there always tends to be with inexperienced players, his talent still flashed repeatedly though. And he really became more consistent from beginning to end.
Against the run Howell was phenomenal. He may not be the biggest safety in the world but he flies all over the place, takes good angles and is an effective tackler in the open field. There’s a physicality to his game as well. He takes advantage of his athleticism and doesn’t shy away from contact.
While Howell did not get the recognition he deserved on one of the official all-conference teams for the Mountain West, the quarterback of CSU’s back end is getting quite a bit of love nationally. 247 Sports graded him out as the highest rated first-year safety in the country and gave him a spot on their freshman All-American team. Pro Football Focus named him second-team All-Mountain West.
Going forward I’m excited to see how Howell’s game will grow. With so many veterans moving on the Rams are going to need talented individuals like No. 17 to really step up and be leaders for the program. What’s encouraging is we’ve already seen that he can handle the big moment. Plus, Howell should only benefit from the return of a healthy Henry Blackburn in the lineup.
It’s not easy being the son of a legend, especially when you play the same position. With how well that Jack played this fall, though, he’s already on his way to establishing his own legacy. The sky is truly the limit for him.
