Colorado sack king Marcus Howard made 鈥榮tatement鈥� with historic season
AURORA, Colo. (BVM) — Achievements in high school football are wonderful. Athletes will cherish these after football has come and gone in their lives.
Seldom do we see record-breaking feats in a season.
In 2021, Colorado saw an athlete achieve a genuinely fantastic accomplishment.
Aurora Central’s Marcus Howard posted an astonishing 23 sacks for the season, placing him as the No. 1 sack leader in Colorado, the No. 19 leader in the country, and tied him for the third most sacks in a season in Colorado history.
Howard wasn’t just a stat sheet stuffer; he has many off-the-field traits that are a commodity for football players.
“Marcus’s best trait is being a very smart person,” Coach Christopher Kelly (Howard’s head coach) noted. “He was our head captain and a natural-born leader and led by example.”
Howard is dedicated to his craft and committed to learning and applying lessons from football to his life.
“Many lessons can be learned through football,” Howard said. “If you want to achieve something, you must put the time and effort behind it. This lesson can be applied to anything. Nothing comes easy, but if you’re willing to stay dedicated, it can happen.”
Howard’s mental prowess and outstanding physical abilities explain how he produced his numbers in 2021. These numbers may have come as a shock to Colorado, but it wasn’t shocking for him.
“2021 was a big statement; no one knew what I was capable of,” Howard said. “Those numbers weren’t luck or mere coincidences but the result of someone who set a goal and put the time and effort behind it.”
Not only was Howard’s senior season not a surprise to himself, but it also wasn’t a surprise to the people around him.
“My favorite memory of Marcus is this past season,” Coach Kelly said. “Seeing the growth from his first year until now is amazing. The work that he put in on his own and at practice was special.”
Howard’s season can be considered more than a success. But for Howard, he is never satisfied. There is always a part of his game that can improve.
“After every game, I constantly wondered what I could’ve done better,” Howard said. “Even though I was a leader on the team, I could’ve done a slightly better job of being in the ears of my teammates.”
Howard’s tremendous on-the-field performance and outstanding mentality do not come out of the blue. Howard has had some tremendous role models who have shaped him into the person he is today, most notably being his family.
“My father is one of the key figures that helped me get to where I am today,” Howard said. “He never hesitated to tell me the truth while still supporting me. Also, my mother and siblings are always in my corner, supporting me. They are a big part of my motivation to continue to strive no matter the obstacles.”
Howard has also had some outstanding coaching figures at Aurora Central.
“Although I’m grateful for every coach, none compared to George Hypolite,” Howard said. “He saw my potential before anyone else, including myself, and took the time to shape me into who I am. Meeting him after my sophomore year was the greatest thing that happened to my football career. We’ve created a bond that will last forever, and I’m extremely blessed to have someone like him.
“Also, I would like to shout out the entire coaching staff at Aurora Central because I’ve never felt closer to a team before. Coach Kelly did an amazing job; Aurora Central is in good hands.”
The admiration that Howard showed is something that has been reciprocated by Coach Kelly.
“Marcus taught me I can trust my players with more responsibility,” Coach Kelly said. “It has been a joy to coach Marcus as a part of our program at Aurora Central. Marcus is a great student-athlete and an even better person. I’m very excited for Marcus and his family. His parents did a great job. I’m honored and excited to see what he will do in his next chapter on and off the field.”
Speaking of the next chapter, Howard has the opportunity to continue his football career at the collegiate level at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in Greely, Colorado.
“Going into UNC, I plan to make an impact on my team and be a part of the change in Greeley,” Howard said. “Something special is happening at UNC, and it’s exciting to know I will be a part of that. This is truly a blessing, and I can’t wait to make my mark at UNC while building new bonds among my coaches and teammates. I am also eager to begin my studies. I am going into the business field and will be taking my studies just as seriously as I have in high school, if not more.”
Howard is an inspiring young man with many opportunities. It will be fascinating to see what he will do at the next level. If his historic 23-sack season is any indication, his career at the next level will be astounding.
