Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart combined for a season-high 15 receptions Thursday night in the Cotton Bowl, but Alabama’s aerial assault also included O.J. Howard.
The Crimson Tide’s talented but occasionally invisible junior tight end had three receptions for 59 yards in the 38-0 mauling of Michigan State. Howard did not have any receptions at Auburn or in the Southeastern Conference championship game against Florida, dropping a second-half pass against the Gators.
“Whenever a play is called, you want to make the most of it,” the 6-foot-6, 242-pounder from Prattville, Ala., told reporters after the resounding win at AT&T Stadium. “I knew I would probably have opportunities in this game.”
Howard has 33 catches for 394 yards this season, topping the 31 receptions he tallied in his freshman and sophomore seasons combined. He had not, however, managed 20 receiving yards in any game since collecting 55 on seven catches in the 19-14 escape of Tennessee on Oct. 24.
“He handles it really well,” fifth-year senior quarterback Jake Coker said after the Cotton Bowl. “You never hear him complain or say that we should be getting a lot more balls to him. He’s a team player and always has been since I’ve been around him.
“All he ever does is congratulate who’s scoring. He’s a guy who is really special to our team.”
Howard became an integral part of the offense Thursday night with Alabama nursing a 7-0 lead with four minutes remaining in the first half. The Crimson Tide opened a drive at their 27 with a 14-yard pass from Coker to Howard, and the two connected moments later for 41 yards to the Michigan State 24.
That helped set up Adam Griffith’s 47-yard field goal that gave the Tide a 10-0 lead that they took into halftime.
Alabama opened the second half with a nine-play, 75-yard possession that culminated with a 6-yard pass from Coker to Ridley that all but put the game away at 17-0. That drive was extended when Coker threw to Howard on third-and-3 for a 4-yard gain to the MSU 19.
Stopping Heisman Trophy-winning tailback Derrick Henry is still expected to be Clemson’s primary objective when the top-seeded Tigers face the second-seeded Tide for the national championship on Jan. 11. Coker and Ridley are clicking more than ever, though, and Howard showed against the Spartans that he can’t be overlooked, either.
“We knew we had opportunities to make plays in the passing game, and we did that,” Howard said. “Jake was outstanding. He made the plays that the coaches called, and he executed for us.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.