EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Julian Howsare, New York Jet.
(Photo of Julian Howsare during 2015 Jets Training Camp. Howsare now wears No. 43. Photo courtesy of Clarion University Athletics)
Be absolutely sure those words aren’t going to get old anytime soon for the former Clarion University All-American.
When Howsare took the field for the New York Jets Sunday afternoon against the Cincinnati Bengals, on of all things his birthday, it ended a journey that started on the football fields of central Pennsylvania before taking him to the Division II school in the self-proclaimed Autumn Leaf Capital of the World and then perhaps the hardest route of all the NFL — undrafted free agent to practice squad to change of positions to making the Jets on the final day of cutdowns.
Howsare was a defensive end/linebacker in college, an All-American one for the Golden Eagles. He is a fullback/special teams player for the New York Jets.
“I would never have guessed I would move from linebacker to fullback,” Howsare told EYT Media Saturday. “But it worked out for me in the end, and I’m glad it did.”
Howsare hadn’t played on the offensive side of the football since high school when he was a running back for Altoona High School.
“I’m not really sure how it came about,” Howsare said to his transition to fullback. “But when I was asked to move there, I was surprised but willing to do it and excited about the new challenge.”
The transition meant learning an entirely new position for Howsare, who wasn’t drafted out of Clarion but signed with the Jets shortly after the 2015 NFL Draft.
“The hardest transition to offense and playing fullback was learning the techniques of the position,” Howsare said.
While moving to fullback wasn’t the easiest of transitions, Howsare’s defensive background played a role in helping him make the team, as he gives the Jets another option on special teams, something he excelled at as a Golden Eagle.
“My role is starting fullback and special teams player,” Howsare said.
Special teams would seem to be where Howsare will see the most playing time considering the Jets offense won’t utilize a fullback more than a handful of times a game and it was an area he saw action extensively Sunday.
But for Howsare just making the team, something that was far from a given heading into training camp is what matters.
“I didn’t even know I had the roster made until 4 p.m. on the day rosters had to be at 53 players,” Howsare said. “I was very excited and ready to get to work. I’m ready to see all my hard work pay off.”
