THE MILLWOOD WAY
Howard has learned what it takes to win at 2A power
The words have been drilled into his head.
Hard work, dedication, teamwork and camaraderie.
When Daniel Howard arrived at Millwood the spring before his sophomore season, these hallmarks of success were foreign concepts for the lanky athlete.
“I feel like I had to adopt a different personality,” Howard said. “I had to learn how to be apart of what everybody here had already bought into.”
Howard is ranked No. 28 on The Oklahoman’s
Super 30 recruit rankings for the upcoming senior class.
The 6-foot-3, 190pound do-everything athlete will choose between defensive back and quarterback at the next level.
He's already drawn scholarship offers from Missouri State, Texas State, Utah State and is continuing to rise after strong showings at a few college camps.
The beginning of Howard's varsity career was tough.
As a freshman at Centennial High School, Howard did everything — playing quarterback and starring on defense — but his team went 1-9.
In his first few practices at Millwood, he got in heated arguments with older teammates and coaches about what his responsibilities were in particular formations and in certain situations.
But under the guidance of head coach Darwin Franklin and defensive coordinator Malcolm Mack, the concept of selfless play and accountability began to take root.
“‘You just wait,’” Franklin said he remembers telling Howard in his first few practices. “When you are a senior you are going to be preaching to the young guys these same concepts.”
The process of earning trust between a high school athlete and a coach is a delicate one, says Franklin.
But Howard has more than earned his thorough dedication to his teammates and a willingness to go the extra mile in practice, weight room and film room.
Last year in the state playoffs, Millwood was battling Alva in the semifinals when starting quarterback Montrell Wilson went down with an injury.
Howard, who had starred as a defensive back and in his few spot duty snaps at quarterback, looked at his teammate on the sideline and assured him he was ready to step in.
“I told him, ‘I got you,’” Howard said. “I knew
they were all counting on me. I wasn’t going to let them down.”
Howard went on to throw for two touchdowns to advance to the Class 2A championship game.
In the title game against Washington, Howard got his first varsity start at quarterback and went on to throw for 172 yards and two touchdowns, including a 40-yard strike to his older brother Dezmond for a score.
“I was really anxious that whole week,” Daniel Howard said. “With a championship on the line, I knew I just needed to step up for my team.
“I felt prepared for the situation.”
This spring, Howard said his coach's early premonition came true as he spent the first few practices guiding younger players in how to own their assignment and play the Millwood way.
"Now that I'm a senior I have to be more vocal and take on that role," Daniel Howard said. "I hate losing. I hate it more than I like winning."
Howard is set to take over the starting quarterback role for the full season as well as continue his hard-hitting play in the defensive backfield.
Millwood is riding a 28-game win streak, and Howard said he hopes to lead his team to a third straight title.
"It's a lot of weight," Howard said. "But with my teammates, I know we can do it together."