Howell's Passion Clear to See

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – There is an edge there. Jay Norvell could see it right away. Nothing he's seen since has changed his mind.

Those who have been around a bit longer would tell him Jack Howell's always been that way, ever since he arrived on campus as a true freshman.

"Jack just came in and immediately started working. He was humble, but early on we could see he could make plays and he was willing to learn and be physical," Dequan Jackson said. "He's got everything it takes, and when you have everything it takes it's a blessing. All it takes is a little bit of character and he has it."

And as things sit, Norvell wouldn't mind if the defense adopted Howell's on-field persona, even a bit of Henry Blackburn's. A good unit plays with passion and tenacity, which Howell does every snap. It doesn't hurt he's physically talented, too.

The sophomore safety leads the Mountain West in tackles per game at 12.0 an outing, coming off a career-best 17 tackles against Boise State. He's also second in the league in interceptions with three, all of them coming in a three-game stretch earlier this season.

The Rams' season may not be going the way they had hoped, but you couldn't tell from the way Howell plays.

"I'm going to bring it no matter what. I don't care if we're up 40 or down 40, I love ball," Howell said. "It just comes natural and just getting to be out there with a bunch of other great players on defense, we can just feed off each other and bring an energy and a nastiness to the defense."

The back end of Colorado State's unit, including Henry Blackburn and Ayden Hector, has played well. Better yet, they all have a few more seasons together to continue to grow and develop. It's a fact not lost on Howell, who believes the trio is fully committed to turning the program around, vested in the system and each other with the goal of becoming one of the top units in the country.

As the strong safety, Howell is very much involved in everything the defense does, and the approach he takes is what helps set him apart.

"I love Jack's attitude. He's a football player," Norvell said. "I mean, he loves the game, he loves practicing the game, he loves studying the game. I think that's so important at his position. You kind of have to be the quarterback of the defense when you're a safety, you have to get everybody lined up, you have to communicate when there are motion checks. He does a great job of that. I'm just really excited to see him play these next four games and finish and have a great season. But he's always thinking about ball, he's always thinking about adjustments. I think he's really emulating Coach Freddie Banks and what he wants in the back end."

For Howell, part of what he feels is the legacy he carries. His father, John, starred for the program in the Sonny Lubick days, going on to an NFL career after joining the program as a walk on. Jack knows the stories, and he also values what his father instilled in him, not just how to be a better player, but particularly how to play the game.

Jack said Colorado State was the only program who seemed to value him coming out of high school and he's determined to pay that loyalty back.

"Every time I put on my jersey, I play for my last name, I play for my God, play for my family," Jack said. "That's' a big part of why I am who I am today is because of my father. He's taught me a lot of things. Getting here, I am the player I am because of him, so it means a lot."

He also seems to get everywhere on the field. He missed the conference opener against Nevada with an injury, sustained in the Sacramento State game. Naturally, he returned to the field to finish the game, of course. It was one of four times this season he's registered double digits in tackles.

He's defended four passes and forced a fumble. It is a role he likes because it forces him to be a versatile performer. Which he always has been, as he was a pretty decent running quarterback in high school.

"You have to be able to do everything in this system, as a strong safety especially," Jack said. "You have to be able to cover, you definitely have to be able to tackle. It's been a nice change up, especially from last year when we were more of a quarters team. This year, more cover three, play a lot of man. It's been fun to add more versatility to my game."

Jackson is a big fan of the player; he always has been. He is a big believer in the leader he is becoming, actually both Jack and Blackburn. More so, he is a fan of the person.

It's because of how Jack approaches the game and life. It also had to do with the way the young player entered the program, proved himself and found his place with a respect toward the natural order of a locker room.

"Me personally, I like Jack as a person. I've been around a lot of good players, and that's an elite player, but it's just the person," Jackson said. "We have a good connection and a good relationship, so for me, it's the person.

"Day to day, I think Jack goes to work and I think he understands it, so I think that's why it's easy for him to things the right way. He's prepared, and on the field, he's communicating, even when he was young. That give you the ability to do things the right way. He's a mature guy, so that's helpful."

In a season where Norvell and his program are trying to find the pieces to lean on, Howell is definitely one of them for multiple reasons. The play is great, but the attitude may be the most admirable trait. Take Jack, pair him with Blackburn, and Norvell believes the defensive side has a good base.

"I think the personality of our defense has really been greatly affected by those two guys," Norvell said. "You could kind of see it early in the year when both of them were kind of hurt off and on and they weren't playing consistently. We didn't play as well defensively. But I love their attitude. They both have great football sense and great field vision. As a safety, you have to be able to see the whole field and be able to diagnose things and react and get involved. I just think we're going to be better and better.

"Jack and Henry both have that kind of edge to them. They love to compete, and they have a fieriness to them. That's what defense is all about. You've got to have pride, and you've got to have a little bit of an edge to you, and those guys have brought that. The last month, I really been proud of our attitude and the way we approach every game defensively. We have a chance to improve on that."

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