Published: Dec. 18, 2014
Howard’s journey takes him back to D-III title game
West Bend native a senior wide receiver for UW-Whitewater
By NICHOLAS DETTMANN
Daily News
Quite possibly nobody knows what it means to get a second
chance and relish it better than University of Wisconsin-Whitewater receiver
Justin Howard.
Howard, a native of West Bend, but a 2008 graduate of
Homestead High School, has played for three schools, been suspended for
off-the-field issues, sat for two years waiting to become eligible again, won a
national championship and is the leading receiver for a team on the brink of a
second straight title, fourth in the last five years.
“It’s been a crazy journey,” Howard said Wednesday from
Salem, Virginia, where the Warhawks will play the Mount Union Purple Raiders in
the NCAA DIvision III national championship.
The game is at 6 p.m. Friday and will be televised by ESPNU.
“I couldn’t be more blessed with the way things turned out,”
Howard added.
At 25, Howard has seen it all.
After Homestead, he accepted a scholarship to play football
at Minnesota State in Mankato, Minnesota. After one year, he transferred to
North Dakota State, where he sat out for one season because of NCAA transfer
rules and played one season for the Bison.
He left Minnesota State because he was on defense and he
wanted to be a receiver.
Then he got into some trouble off the field at NDSU, which
resulted in him being suspended from the program.
He sat out for another two years as he waited for his
eligibility to return. Howard said he spent most of that time working and
staying in shape.
He also did some soul searching.
“I had to get my life back on track,” Howard said. He
returned to the playing field in 2013 for Whitewater. Last season, Howard was
second on the team in receiving and won a national championship. This year, he
leads the team in receiving and was an All-WIAC selection.
“I was nothing short of happy for him,” said Joe Worth, a
2011 Hartford Union graduate, a fellow receiver for the Warhawks and a good
friend of Howard’s. “To see one of your good buddies get a little recognition
and get the opportunity he has gotten, I’m more than happy for him.”
Another reason Howard left NDSU was he wanted to be a go-to
receiver. He waited a season-and-a-half for that to happen.
Receiver Jake Kumerow went down with an ankle injury,
opening the door of opportunity for Howard.
In the four games Kumerow missed, Howard made 32 catches for
452 yards and three touchdowns. Going into Friday’s game, Howard has 76 catches
for 1,089 yards and 11 touchdowns.
“I approached it as exciting,” Howard said of his
opportunity to be a go-to receiver, adding he just wished it was under a
different circumstance. “It’s something I’ve been waiting for.” Friday’s game
will be Howard’s last college game. He still hopes to continue his football
playing career in some way.
“I’m very proud of myself, looking at it from my perspective
and my family,” Howard said.
“He loves the game; he has so much passion for the game; it
rubs off on me,” Worth said. “I admire that from him. He taught me to never
give up on your dreams.
“For him to be here playing, I respect him a lot for that.”
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