Skyler Howard in great shape entering the season
Skyler Howard has had to answer critics ever since his high school playing days in Texas.
There’s no time like the present to silence the haters for good as Howard enters his senior season for the WVU football program.
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Howard’s road to West Virginia was anything but a straight path. He began his collegiate career at FCS-level Stephen F. Austin before transferring to Riverside Community College, where he played in 2013.
After putting up solid numbers, which included 3,151 yards and 33 touchdowns, he went on a nationwide search to see which Division I football program fit him best.
When offensive guru and WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen gave him the go-ahead to join the Mountaineers, Howard always had the goal of doing big things for the Mountaineers.
His two-year tenure has been a bit of a roller coaster, but as it was in the beginning, Holgorsen’s confidence never waned. Neither did Howard’s assurance in himself.
Last season, Howard was a Top 25 quarterback in many national statistical categories. He tossed for 241.9 yards per game with a total of 26 passing touchdowns.
He led a Mountaineer comeback in the Cactus Bowl and earned Offensive MVP honors. It was a great way to close the book on his junior year and open a new door into his final season at the college level.
This offseason, Howard has proven once again that he takes his job as a quarterback and team leader seriously. He has been on a rigorous workout plan and looks to be in the best shape of his life.
He took to Instagram to show off his mini vacation at the beach.
Howard doesn’t need a reminder that the football season is quickly approaching. He enjoyed some time off but is excited to get back to work and make this final year one to remember, personally. Howard certainly hasn’t taken any time off in the gym because his physique is ideal for a Division I athlete of his caliber.
Under the direction of strength and conditioning coach Mike Joseph, the entire Mountaineer team should be consistently strong and agile whether it’s in-season or in the summer.
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What’s so encouraging about this upcoming season is that Howard has proven to be a winner, but he still has to get over a proverbial hump. He’s been inconsistent at times, but elite when he’s on top of his game.
If he can block out distractions and eliminate bad decisions, Howard will not only be a top quarterback in the Big 12, but he could be one of the best in the nation.
More importantly, he will win over the naysayers within the Mountain State.