Lincoln-Way West senior Jacob Howard is remarkably comfortable stepping into a new role he has never experienced. The converted wide receiver has never taken a varsity snap at quarterback.
Still, Howard knows all about the high-profile position with nowhere to hide.
And that’s the ace up his sleeve.
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“I feel like I’m going to be able to deal with it pretty well,” he said. “I’ve been in high-pressure situations in baseball and I think it will carry over. It’s a little nerve-racking, but I just have to go out there, stay confident and trust the offense.
“The receivers run great routes and I have good running backs to open up the passing game.”
That Howard-led passing game will be a a big boost for Lincoln-Way West (10-2), which checks in at No. 10 in the Daily Southtown preseason rankings. The Warriors return six starters and several other key players from last year’s Class 7A state quarterfinalist.
The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Howard possesses the length, athleticism and body control to give the Warriors a different dimension at quarterback. He’s eager to take control of the team’s multifaceted offensive attack.
Lincoln-Way West coach Luke Lokanc demonstrated trust in Howard, despite nonexistent varsity experience at quarterback, by naming him as a captain along with senior linebacker Austin Collins.
“He’s everything you want in a high school football player,” Lokanc said of Howard. “He does everything right. He’s got all the qualities you want in your quarterback — leadership, team player, two-sport athlete. With him, the offensive side of the game always looks right.
“That’s something you always want. He fits all the molds.”
Senior running back Alex Dilorenzo sees all of the same qualities in Howard.
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“Jacob is a great leader who has a great ability to control the team and also just take over the game,” he said. “He’s a great person. He’s very funny, loose and great to be around.
“He always knows when it’s time to get serious. When the game is on, he knows how to play and what to do out there.”
As a junior last season, Howard was utilized on flare screens and jet runs to optimize his explosive speed and quickness. He considers running to be the strongest attribute of his game.
Howard, who played quarterback as a freshman and sophomore, grew up at the position beginning with flag football in kindergarten and continuing with the New Lenox Jr. Warriors.
Playing behind center also runs in the family. His father and his older brother, each named Josh, helped set the stage for his varsity debut.
“My father played quarterback at Andrew,” said Jacob, whose brother is a defensive back for Wisconsin-Platteville. “I grew up playing football and being a quarterback all the time.
“My brother also started out playing quarterback at a younger age and then moved to strong safety once he got to high school.”
This past spring, Howard was a standout outfielder and pitcher for the Warriors in baseball. He went 3-1 on the mound. Batting cleanup, he was third on the team with 13 extra-base hits, four home runs and 23 RBIs.
An excellent student, Howard looks for balance and serenity in his life outside of sports. With many of teammates, he takes jaunts to state parks like Starved Rock or Kankakee.
That camaraderie will help the Warriors, who open up their season on Friday, Aug. 21 at Belleville East, which reached the second round of the Class 8A playoffs last year.
In the brightest spotlight, as a quarterback or a pitcher, nothing is likely to faze Howard.
“I’m just a competitor,” he said. “I’m not going to shy away from a challenge or competition. We’re going to be playing a lot of Division I recruits.
“Quarterback is like pitching, dealing with the pressure or the moment. The bases are loaded and you just have to get a strikeout or get out of tough situations.”
Quick hits
Team: Lincoln-Way West.
2025 record: 10-2.
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Offensive leaders: Jacob Howard, senior, quarterback; Alex Dilorenzo, senior, running back; Thatcher Skwirut, senior, tight end; Brayden Niemeyer, senior, offensive lineman.
Defensive leaders: Austin Collins, senior, linebacker; Nick Elstner, junior, defensive back; Dawson Wohleber, senior, defensive back; Cameron Moskos, senior, defensive lineman.
X-factor: Braydon McNulty, junior, wide receiver.
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.