Quarterback looking for a home

It is not often that a 6-foot-5, 220-pound quarterback with an impressive resume gets overlooked in the recruiting process.

With just over a week until National Signing Day, that is exactly what is happening to Montgomery (Md.) Junior College quarterback Steve Howell.

Frankly, Montgomery head coach Phil Martin is surprised by the lack of attention toward his strong-armed signal caller.

“It is probably the biggest puzzle of my 21-year coaching career,” Martin said on Tuesday afternoon. “(Steve) is one of the best I have ever had. He has all the ability – size, speed, arm, grades and he has three years to play two. He was leading the NJCAA in practically every passing category through six games.”

Howell injured his shoulder in the first quarter of the team’s seventh game and missed the final two. He finished his sophomore season completing 75-of-145 passes (51.7%) for 1,268 yards with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Howell has completed his academic work and is at home in Indiana working and trying to decide his future college plans. His injury, a slightly separated shoulder, is fully healed.

“He visited Temple in December and I thought he would end up there but they took another JUCO quarterback,” Martin noted. “The latest is he is considering walking on at Kansas State. They have a couple of senior quarterbacks and Steve could compete for playing time after a redshirt year and possibly earn a scholarship.

“I don’t know about the walk-on stuff,” he added. “He has the talent to sign a D-I scholarship.”