BOCA RATON – With the struggles faced by FAU this year, there have been only a few bright spots. Junior running back Buddy Howell glows the brightest.
Howell has become the main scoring factor for FAU, accounting for eight touchdowns on the season in only six games. Only two other players, Alfred Morris (twice) and Quez Johnson, have scored more touchdowns for the Owls in a single season.
He’s on pace to shatter Morris’ FAU single-season record of 11 touchdowns set in 2011 season.
Morris and Howell are similar in their running styles. Neither is afraid the get the tough yards. Both are capable of breaking big runs.
“Ground and pound is my thing,” Howell said.
Howell has racked up 505 yards and eight touchdowns on 98 carries this season, leading all three categories for the team. His eight touchdowns equal the total scored by the rest of his teammates combined.
If Howell keeps up his current pace he will be able to break Morris’ record in a matter of three games, eventually finding the end zone 16 times.
Of course, a repeat of the performance he gave against Charlotte, where Howell scored three times, would allow him to tie the record on Saturday, when the Owls head to West Virginia to face Marshall.
Four of Howell’s touchdown runs have covered at least 37 yards. All three scores on Sunday came from three yards out. He also scored on a 1-yard run against Kansas St.
“I’m always looking for the next one – not for me personally but for the team,” said Howell, describing his thoughts upon reaching the end zone. “Just, as a team, let’s get in the end zone again.”
Howell figures to extend his numbers this weekend against a Marshall defense that is allowing 193.8 yards per game.
In his career, Howell has rushed for 101 yards on 26 carries against Marshall, but has yet to find the end zone.
“I see a lot of success running the ball on that team,” said Howell looking forward to Saturday. “I feel like it could be the same type of game [as it was against Charlotte] – ground and pound. Like (offensive coordinator Travis Trickett) said, they are all down – all man, so once I break plane I’m running, just basically get past the first level and then it’s off to the races.”
Howell has the attention of Marshall coach Doc Holliday.
“Gregory Howell is a big kid,” Holliday said. “He is a 200-plus pound back. He breaks tackles and he is a physical runner. He has become much more so now that he is a year older.”
As close as Howell is to Morris’ record, he isn’t a lock to break, or even tie, it. Trickett has shown a recent willingness to spread the touchdowns around. In the two games that preceded Charlotte, Devin Singletary and Kerrith Whyte scored the first touchdowns of their careers, both coming on goal line situations.
In Singletary’s case, FAU turned the ground game over to the freshman after Howell fumbled early in the third quarter against FIU.
Howell, though, was back to being the lead dog against Charlotte, and as the Owls’ line continues to regain its health – right tackle Kelly Parfitt could return this week – the Owls’ ground game has grown increasingly potent.
“I’m happy to be the man that they put the ball in his hands to take the opportunities – I’m grateful for that,” Howell said. “But at the end of the day you want to keep scoring so every time I score I’m like, let’s do it again.”
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