The last IU player to earn this honor was former Hoosier Tevin Coleman on Oct. 13, 2014.
Howard is currently the nation’s leading rusher with his 675 yards in four games. His 168.8 yards per game falls shy of only Louisiana State University running back Leonard Fournette’s record.
Howard’s performance at Wake Forest also made him the only Football Bowl Subdivision player in the last 20 seasons to run for more than 140 yards in each of his first four games at a new school.
Howard came to IU this winter after University of Alabama Birmingham dropped its football program. Last season he rushed for 1,587 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Blazers. This was enough to earn him first team All-Conference USA.
Offensive Coordinator Kevin Johns was asked Monday about being conservative running the ball with a lead in the second half.
“Jordan Howard is our best player, so we put the ball in his hands,” Johns said.
In four games at IU, Howard has put up performances of 145, 159, 203 and 168 yards and has scored a combined four touchdowns as IU stands 4-0 for the first time in 25 years.
One-third of his attempts have gone for either a first down or touchdown this season and 93.7 percent of his carries have gone for positive yardage.
Since the beginning of the 2013 season, Howard leads all rushers in yards, carries and 150-yard games.
IU will take on No. 1 Ohio State this Saturday in Memorial Stadium. It will be Howard’s first Big Ten game since joining IU.
Brody Miller
