Sports

UAPB’S MAREO HOWARD SPECIAL THREAT ON SPECIAL TEAMS

By Troy Schulte/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 12:35 PM CST

During halftime of a Nov. 7 win over Grambling State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff coach Monte Coleman mentioned to his kickoff return team that a long return, perhaps one that ended in the end zone, just may be the final blow the Golden Lions needed for a win.

Then, when UAPB went out to stretch before the start of the second half Mareo Howard, a running back who has emerged as the best kick returner in the Southwestern Athletic Conference this season, was reminded by a few teammates, too.

Turns out, the encouragement helped. After a flurry that saw three touchdowns in the final two minutes to close the second quarter, Howard’s return, which began at the 5-yard line near the left hash and ended as Howard dove into the opposite end zone near the right sideline, opened up a 35-10 lead.

“Once they kicked it, everybody on the kick team ran to that corner,” Howard recalled. “There was nobody on the other side, so I just took it over there.”

The Golden Lions didn’t seal the win with that return. Instead, they needed every bit of Howard’s zig-zagging run back at War Memorial Stadium that day to hold off the defending conference champions in a 49-42 win.

But that’s why Coleman, special teams coordinator Phil Cole and the rest of the coaching staff are glad they have Howard, a sophomore who owns 4.3 speed in the 40-yard dash. And that’s why they have kept him as a kick returner this season, rather than play him at running back where he might have gotten lost in the shuffle with three or four players.

On special teams, his skills can shine through.

“Mareo is something special,” said Cole, who recruited the 5-8 180-pounder out of Fort Valley, Ga.

Cole is in his fifth season coordinating the special teams at UAPB. He said Howard might be the best returner he’s had in that time and admits it was good to see the team’s biggest special teams threat final ly break a long return to the end zone.

Howard came close earlier this season against Alabama A&M, his 50-yard return put the Golden Lions on the Bulldog 38-yard line and set up their only touchdown. He also had a 50-yard punt return in last season’s finale against Texas Southern.

“It’s frustrating,” said Howard, who added he didn’t return kickoffs full-time until he arrived at UAPB last year. “If I have a long one I want to go ahead and put it in the end zone.”

As Howard watches a kickoff fall to his arms, he’s thinking touchdown everytime. But Cole tells him and other returners Trey Austin and James Harrell their main focus is to flip the field position.

They want to outdo their 20.3 yards per return average, which is fourth in the SWAC, and maybe get it to the 40-yard line. Anything else is a bonus, Cole said.

That mix of big-play hopes with more modest expectations has helped Howard become such a consistent threat. He leads the SWAC with a 32.3 yards per-return average, and only three of his nine returns this season have gone for less than 23 yards.

“If I know they’re kicking to a certain side, I try to put Mareo in that spot,” Cole said. “I want Mareo to get it everytime. He’s my threat.”

Howard is pleased with the statistical honor, as well as being named SWAC Specialist of the Week for his performance against Grambling, but he and coaches believe he can some day evolve into an offensive threat.

Last season, as a true freshman, he played wide receiver out of necessity and caught nine passes for 62 yards. This season, his only rush went for 55 yards in the Oct. 24 win over Edward Waters.

Those flashes have made it so Cannon has no doubt he can be a contributor in the backfield.

This year, though, there first weren’t many opportunities with senior Mickey Dean headlining the backfield. And by the time Dean was lost for three games because of a hamstring injury, Howard’s ability at returning kicks had become something the coaches wanted to protect.

“He’s talented enough,” Cannon said. “Our backfield was full of talented guys. We knew he was a talented guy so, it was an opportunity to get him touches. He (has) evolved into one of the top return guys.”

Next spring Dean will have exhausted his eligibility and the competition for his replacement will most likely be between Dhabion Woodfin, Dexter Toney and Howard. Even so, look for Howard to be standing around his own 5-yard line each time UAPB is set to receive a kickoff.

“If we get a chance to use him I’m going to use him,” Cole said. “He’s definitely a threat. Right now, he’s still my kick returner.”

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