Former Walk-On to Play in 56th Career Game on Saturday
Safety has been one of Minnesota's most reliable players for the past five seasons.
by Ameer Eldomiatti, Student Assistant
11/17/2022
It has been quite the journey for safety Jordan Howden.
On Saturday, the former walk-on will play in his final home game at Huntington Bank Stadium when Minnesota faces Iowa. It will also be the 56th game of Howden’s career.
Howden came to Minnesota prior to the 2018 season and did not know a single player on the roster when he walked on from Desert Pines high school in Las Vegas. Since then he has grown into one of the most trusted and reliable players for the Gophers, totaling 223 tackles, 19 pass breakups, 4.5 tackles for loss and four interceptions in 55 games.
“It’s a story I can tell my kids one day,” said Howden, who combines with Tyler Nubin to form one of the best safety combinations in the nation. “I just look back on how far I have come over these years.”
It certainly has been a story of perseverance, determination and believing in oneself.
“I can remember the first game, his first game he had some plays that went against him,” said defensive coordinator Joe Rossi. “But then I remember a game soon after against Indiana and he had an interception. He’s always been athletic as a safety, but I’ve really seen him grow as a tackler. We are really fortunate to have him, and I think he’s got a bright future at the next level.”
Senior linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin also has been able to appreciate the growth that Howden has made during his time with the Gophers.
“I remember when Jordan came on campus and nobody really knew who he was,” said Sori-Marin, who was a member of the 2018 recruiting class that included Howden. “He came a week and a half later than everybody else, everybody wasn’t really sure who he was, but he was one of the first guys to be thrown into a major role when Antoine Winfield went down with an injury. It has been awesome just to see his growth as a leader during these past five years. I’m blessed to be a part of it.”
On Saturday, Howden and several other of his teammates will participate in Senior Day activities before playing their final home game as Gophers.
“It just means a lot, especially the amount of time you’ve spent with them to be able to play with them and knowing it’s your last game,” said Howden. “You just want to play for them and for yourself, your family, the state and the fans.”
Although Saturday will be filled with a lot of emotion and reflection, it will be a game that Howden is extremely focused on. A win against Iowa would keep Minnesota’s chances for a Big Ten West title alive.
Howden, who ranks fourth on the team in tackles this year with 41, knows the importance of the game with Iowa, but he also knows that consistent preparation has helped him to get where he is now.
“You have to go out there and execute the game plan and communicate with each other and be able to help your teammates,” he said.
Howden’s career as a Gopher is getting closer to the end this weekend, but what a journey it has been.
