Freshmen Duo Making Impact in Secondary
Howell, Floyd both started against Air Force
As freshmen, they came in with the best of intentions.
Put in the work. Learn the ropes. Adapt to the college game. Grab the attention of those who matter and see where it leads you.
For Jack Howell and Robert Floyd, it’s led them directly to the field, even starting assignments. Head coach Steve Addazio mentions their names and talks expectantly of the future, but they are also a big part of the present.
It’s what they both hoped for, not expected.
“My expectation when I first came was set a foundation,” Floyd said. “What my mom always talked to me about was shoot for the best, so I came in here ready to go. Even though I was a walk-on and wouldn’t get much attention, I was ready to go when they needed me. I was always raised that you make it happen, you have to go take what you want.”
Though the two are on the same path, they came to Colorado State from different perspectives. Floyd had offers until he was injured his senior year, then looked for what he could. At Colorado State, he found a team with a family atmosphere like he had at Deerfield Beach High School in Florida. Howell had plenty of offers, and when he chose the Rams, he became a legacy player, following in the footsteps of his father, John, who played safety at CSU and later in the NFL.
On top of that, Howell graduated early from Hamilton High School in Arizona and was on campus for spring ball to get a head start. Even though he hoped it would lead him to where he is, he didn’t expect it, not with three veteran safeties returning.
“It’s such a blessing. I have so many thing to be thankful for,” he said. “Of course that was a goal, to come to CSU and start and play as soon as I could, but I just want to keep building off that and see where I go. I think I’ve played well, but I need to take it a step up. We need to start winning games, we need more turnovers. We’re on the right path, but I can always improve, do better and keep building brick by brick.”
Both are playing well and still improving. Each of them had their arrivals expedited by early injuries at their positions, but they took full advantage of the opportunity and have not only given anything back, but have continued to force the issue.
When the Rams lost Linwood Crump in fall camp, Floyd was getting more practice reps. Logan Stewart was out all of fall camp, giving Howell more time on the field. They have each played nine games and found themselves in the starting lineup.
That happened earlier for Howell, who made his first appearance against Vanderbilt, then started the next four games. Floyd didn’t play the first game, either, but he was a regular backup from the second game, then started the past two.
Last week, they were both in the starting lineup. The future really was the present.
“Robert Floyd and Jack Howell are going to be two fabulous players,” Addazio said. “They’re legitamite players. They’re just ballers. Those guys make instinctive plays. Some do, some don’t. They do. Both of them. They love football. It’s never too big for them.”
I’ve got some teammates who approach it certain way, but they approach it at another level. That’s crazy to say, given how young they are. They have something they bring to the table a lot of upperclassmen don’t bring.Tywan Francis
Howell is fifth on the team in tackles with 58, posting a career best stops against Boise State, then repeating it last week against Air Force. He has shown a knack for stuffing rush lanes with 2.5 tackles for loss, he’s forced a fumble and against San Jose State, he intercepted his first pass.
While he’s happy with his play, he’s also critical of his performance, which he feels is required to accomplish goals far beyond his initial season.
“I try to come out of every game without a missed tackle. Last game wasn’t good enough, because I had a few missed tackles,” Howell said. “Every game I try to improve myself, whether it’s tackles or coverages, no missed assignments. I’m always trying to get better.”
He’s positive he would have two interceptions if not for Floyd last week, who made a leaping, athletic play for a pick Howell had targeted.
“Most definitely. He did,” Howell said, laughing. “But I’m still proud of him though.”
And now it is Floyd, not Howell, who leads the Rams with two interceptions on the year. His first was big, coming on the road against a ranked Iowa team, and his return set the offense up for a touchdown. He also has 28 tackles and a quarterback hurry to his credit. The positive plays help him develop, but so do the negatives ones. It is the nature of the beast when you play on an island.
“At first, when I was getting beat, it was bringing me down a little,” Floyd said. “Talking to Coach Anthony Perkins and all the coaches, I don’t dwell on it as much. I know playing the corner position, I know I’m going to get beat. That’s’ what I signed up for.
“You can always get better. No one is perfect. You can always get better. No matter how good you think you are, you can always get better. When you’re not working, there’s somebody working and trying to beat you.”
So neither of them wants to get outworked, which is a character trait both share and the coaching staff loves. The staff doesn’t mind putting more on their plates, because they’re going to handle the tasks assigned. The piece of advice Howell’s father gave him was his freshman year was going to be a grind, and father definitely knew best.
It’s not just the coaches who have taken notice, it’s their older teammates. Francis is enamored with the way they carry themselves and approach their craft, well beyond their years.
“What impresses me about those two, they love it. They love the game,” he said. “With those two, you don’t have to talk about how much they love it, because you can see it every day, the way they approach everything. I’ve got some teammates who approach it certain way, but they approach it at another level. That’s crazy to say, given how young they are. They have something they bring to the table a lot of upperclassmen don’t bring.
“What really impresses me is how mature they are. For freshmen, there are a lot of mistakes that can be made, considering how lengthy the playbook is. With Robert and Jack, there aren’t many mistakes. They get it. It’s really impressive to see how they’ve handled their role this year, because I’m pretty sure they weren’t expecting their role to be as big as it was. They had some big shoes to fill, and they didn’t disappoint.”
Both of them talked about the volume of what their day-to-day is, and how that’s been an adjustment from high school. Not just the practice schedule, but lifting. They are watching more film – and have learned how to view it properly – than ever before. The season is longer, and the practices stack up.
This is the area where Addazio may be the most fascinated by his freshmen in the secondary.
“Some guys are having a hard time keeping pace with that right now,” Addazio said. “Not those two young guys though.
“We’re developing this program, and those young guys, Jack Howell as an example and Robert Floyd as an example, are two guys, they appear to handle that just fine. Some of these other guys, they don’t handle it so fine.”
That’s been just as much part of the learning process as anything Stewart or Francis has taught him about run fits and pass coverage, Howell said. To be at your best for practice every day requires preparation, just like for a game. So he’s learned to take advantage of what is available, and not everybody does.
At least not to the full extent.
“I think a big part of it is taking care of your body, always being in the training room,” Howell said. “I think our trainers have done a great job keeping us healthy. You just have to love ball, like coach says. When you love ball you’re always trying to go, always trying to keep on the field as long as you can. Really, that’s just the main thing.”
Remaining on the field produces a substantial drive for both of them now. That’s natural, considering the effort they put in to get to this point, neither one of them wants to take a step back. At the same time, both of them feel there is so much more they should be doing.
Now, they’re both being counted on, for the next game, the next season and years to come. Better for both of them, they have each other.
“It’s extremely fun. Jack and I, I look at him like a brother,” Floyd said. “Just to see him having fun out there, playing and doing what he’s doing, I’m happy for him and I’m excited just to do it with him.”