The Indiana Hoosiers are obviously a basketball school, not football. However, IU does have a very explosive offense and they’re quite apt at producing NFL talent at the offensive skill positions, especially at running back.
The Chicago Bears selected Indiana running back Jordan Howard in the fifth round (150th overall pick) of the 2016 NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon at the Auditorium Theater of Roosevelt University in Chicago. Along with Tevin Coleman, who was drafted in the third round by the Atlanta Falcons in 2015, this is the first time since 1990-92 (Anthony Thompson, Ernie Thompson and Vaughn Dunbar) Indiana running backs have been taken in consecutive drafts.
So who is Jordan Howard and what does he bring to the Chicago Bears backfield?
Well, he is indeed a powerful back who will compete for playing time right away. Jeremy Langford obviously remains the starter, but the Bears needed to add depth at a position that’s notoriously more injury prone than most in the NFL. Every team needs multiple tailbacks as it’s a position where players consistently take a physical pounding week in and week out.
The Chicago Bears are especially sensitive to this need now after the departure of Matt Forte. Anyway, here’s what Jordan Howard brings to their proverbial table.
A first team All-Big Ten selection, Howard entered the bowl season second in the Big Ten with 134.8 rushing yards per game (9th nationally) and 146.6 all-purpose yards per game (15th). He helped the Hoosiers earn a trip to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl and finished the year with 1,213 rushing yards (3rd in Big Ten; 30th nationally) on 196 carries (3rd), a 6.2 average (3rd; 26th), with nine rushing touchdowns and 10 total TDs despite missing 22 quarters of action.
Howard became the 11th Hoosier (16th time) to reach 1,000 yards and is 12th on the program’s all-time single-season list.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram
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