Sky is the limit for Bell senior receiver under new system

Standing at 6-2 and weighing 200 lbs., L.D. Bell senior wide receiver Tacorian Howard drew comparisons to Dallas Cowboys’ superstar Dez Bryant from new Bell head coach Mike Glaze.

“You just throw it out there and he’s tough for most corners to tackle because of his size and his physicality and long arms,” Glaze said.

The problem was, Bell had trouble throwing the ball at all last season.

During his junior campaign, Howard led the Raiders in receiving yards with 251 yards on 22 catches and 2 touchdowns, miles away from what Glaze believes Howard can do under the program’s new offense.

The result has been a slow journey so far on the recruiting trail.

So, as Glaze implements an offense that works of quick screens and play-action passes, all eyes will be on Howard to spread out the defense with go routes and break tackles after short passes.

“I’m definitely juiced about coming out and trying my best and showing every other school our offense,” Howard said.

The excitement that came with Bell’s new coaching staff brought as many as 70 different college programs to campus over the spring and summer, Glaze said, and Howard’s work in the new system turned heads.

Coaches from Kansas and Texas Tech came back just to watch Howard work out.

Over the summer, Howard camped with Kansas, Baylor, TCU and Houston, which again drew praise from the Jayhawks, Glaze said.

“I think things are going to pick up for him,” the new head coach said.

Howard really likes the offenses Baylor and TCU have run out over the past few years, and said he’d enjoy playing close to home at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

Sunday, Howard said he has been working out on his own with TCU 2017 quarterback commit Shawn Robinson out of Denton Guyer.

At a minimum, Glaze hopes to increase Howard’s output from 22 catches last season to 45 at a minimum. But if all goes as planned, Howard could pull in over 60 passes in his senior year.

“I fell like it’s going to be a lot of pressure on me individually to make big plays because I feel like going into the season as an underdog, we’re going to face a lot of adversity where big plays are going to be needed,” Howard said.

With all the weight Howard will be tasked to carry in the spotlight of Bell’s new offense, it’s never about his individual stats but the program, Glaze said.

“He really wants Bell to be successful,” Glaze said. “He’s really in it for our program. He’s not in it for himself.”

Howard believes this can be a year for Bell to shine again, after a 1-9 season in 2014.

“It’s always a thrill to see the opportunity you have to play for a coach like Coach Glaze and the coaching staff he brought in,” he said. “They have a lot of connections and a lot of skills that can help each one of us on the team be successful.”

Travis L. Brown can be reached at tbrown7137@gmail.com and on Twitter @Travis_L_Brown.

This story was originally published July 27, 2015 at 1:50 PM with the headline "Sky is the limit for Bell senior receiver under new system."