Imagine dedicating you time, sweat and tears to one thing for your entire life and then all of a sudden, it’s almost ripped away from you.
That hypothetical almost became a reality for Bears running back Jordan Howard more than once.
The rookie from Indiana has run around different obstacles during his football career and is ready for the challenges that await during Bears training camp and the upcoming season.
“He’s a very determined player; he has a big chip on his shoulder,” Indiana’s running back coach Deland McCullough said. “He has felt he wasn’t respected as much as he should be. … These instances have fueled him to make him into the player he is today.”
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Howard’s travails began in high school when he suffered a stress fracture in his pelvis during the summer before his senior year so he couldn’t participate in camps. The lack of exposure left the Gardendale, Ala., native with only one scholarship offer — from nearby Alabama-Birmingham.
The running back impressed right away, rushing for 881 yards and two touchdowns during his freshman season. He added 1,587 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns during his sophomore year.
Then UAB suspended its football program for financial reasons leaving players and coaches to figure out what’s next. In a sense, everyone on the team became a free agent for recruiting.
“There were a lot of emotions,” Howard said. “… But after I got over (it), I realized it’s a blessing in disguise because I had coaches from bigger schools calling me and things like that.”
Colleges didn’t wait to pounce on Howard, especially Indiana. McCullough was in an airport in Washington waiting for an email that it was OK to reach out to Howard. Once he got it, McCullough was on the phone making his pitch to Howard.
Other schools such as Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Iowa and Louisville also expressed interest, but McCullough’s dedication to contacting his “crown jewel” first helped make the difference.
Howard became the featured back for Indiana with the departure Tevin Coleman to the NFL. The transfer took the Big Ten by storm rushing for 1,213 yards and nine touchdowns though he missed four games to injury during the season.
McCullough helped Howard become more than a running back who could run over people, working on his cuts and speed.
Howard’s chances of making a quick impact got a boost when the Bears decided not to re-sign Matt Forte. The Bears drafted two running backs during the past two seasons, Ka’Deem Carey and Jeremy Langford, respectively, after not drafting one the previous five years.
Howard now is poised to be a short-yard, third-down threat at 6 feet, 230 pounds.
“I’m really impressed with his short-space quickness,” Bears running back coach Stan Drayton said. “You’re talking about a guy who’s over 230 pounds. I didn’t realize he was that quick, I’m going to be honest. I’m excited about that.”
Although Howard is getting acclimated to the bruises of camp and facing elite defenders, he’s ready for the challenge.
“I feel like any little thing, I’ve been through worse,” Howard said. “I don’t let things get to me. I stay pretty even keel.”
How could he not? He has made it this far.
Twitter @mdwojak94