Steelers' Scout Zack Crockett Heaps Glowing Praise On Jarveon Howard After 2024 HBCU Combine Effort

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a big decision to make this offseason. They selected Najee Harris in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and the bill has come due. Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin must decide whether to exercise the fifth-year option on Harris. If the Steelers elect to pick up the option, it will cost them over $6.5 million.

It is a complicated decision. Harris has rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons and set the franchise record for rookie receptions. However, he is part of a tandem with Jaylen Warren, and replacing Harris with a more cost-effective option is what the analytics crowd would suggest. If the Steelers elect to decline the option, it will likely trigger a holdout, and Khan may need to bring another running back through the draft or free agency.

Even if the Steelers pick up Harris' option, they still need running back depth. An intriguing option for the Steelers might be Jarveon Howard, who impressed Steelers scout Zack Crockett at the HBCU combine, which is being held at the New Orleans Saints practice facility this week. Crockett raved to Steve Wyche from NFL Network about what he thought about Howard, who played for Alcorn State during his collegiate career.

“For one, this kid here, you see the bursts, you see how he gets in and out,” Crockett said. "See how he finishes up the field right there? That’s what you want to see in the guy. Can he get through the mesh? Is he picking his knees up? Can he drop his weight down and get him out of his cuts and bursts at the same time? Not too much-wasted movement, and that’s what you want. You want to see somebody that has good acceleration because a lot of times, these guys aren’t going to be the power guys. No, the acceleration is gonna be the power for him. So it’s two different types of backs you want. You want to see the guy who has it all, and he’s showing it all out here today.”

Crockett, who played 13 seasons in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has been a scout for the Steelers for almost one year. He mostly played fullback during his lengthy NFL career and played in the infamous "tuck rule" game for the Raiders in 2001, as well as the Super Bowl XXXVII loss in 2002.

Howard began his career at Syracuse in the ACC and chose to sit out in 2020 due to COVID concerns. After not playing very much in 2021, he transferred to Alcorn State, where he became one of the best running backs in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Howard rushed for 1,275 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2022 on 250 carries. In 2023, he carried the ball nearly 100 times less, but still managed to rush for 800 yards and eight touchdowns.

Howard posted one of the fastest 40-yard dash times at the HBCU combine and is very similar in stature to Warren. He is likely to be an ideal fit in Arthur Smith's offense. Howard demonstrated that he was a physical downhill runner with Alcorn State. He is tough to bring down and breaks a lot of tackles. Howard is a decisive one-cut running back who barrels into the hole with reckless abandon. He was not a proficient pass catcher in college and is considered a below-average route runner, and an aggressive pass protector. 

The Steelers need insurance in case Harris is unhappy with his contract situation, and for depth at the position. Running backs are notoriously undervalued in the modern NFL. Harris was vocal last summer in support of talented running backs like Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs, so a holdout, even if Khan picks up his option, is a possibility. Howard, if selected, could be asked to provide more than depth if that is the case. 

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are the Steelers just evaluating depth behind Harris and Warren, or looking for a replacement? Please comment below, or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq. 

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