Malik Howard (3) and the Oak Ridge Wildcats scrimmaged the Fulton Falcons on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Photo by Danny Parker)
BY JESSE SMITHEY
This time a year ago, Malik Howard’s name was beginning to circulate quickly throughout the college football recruiting realm.
As offers continue roll in this spring for the 6-foot-4 tight end from Oak Ridge, the attention he garners is now commonplace.
“Everything is more real now,” Howard said. “At first, it was like, ‘Oh, coaches are looking at me. Schools are looking at me.’ All this possibility. To now, it’s like, ‘This is the real deal.’
“I feel like it’s helped me in the long run,” Howard added. “I feel like it’s taught me how to deal with all this stuff, to where it’s not just getting bombarded on me right now. I’ve been building up and learning how to deal with everything.”
He doesn’t take it for granted, though.
Howard accepts the process for what it is: a part of the journey to reach a much bigger goal.
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