Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end O.J. Howard (88) runs the ball against Clemson Tigers safety T.J. Green (15) during the fourth quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Championship games sometimes produce unlikely heroes, and with that, we present to you Alabama tight end O.J. Howard.
The College Football Playoff Championship Game featured Alabama Heisman-winning running back Derrick Henry and an epic performance from Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson (third in the Heisman voting), but Howard stole the show.
The junior caught five passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns, taking home Offensive Player of the Game honors as the Crimson Tide beat the Tigers 45-40 Monday night at University of Phoenix Stadium.
“O.J. should have been involved more all year long,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said.
“Sometimes, he was open and we didn’t get him the ball. I think the last two games have been breakout games for him and what he can do. I would say it’s bad coaching on my part that he didn’t have the opportunity to do that all year long.”
Howard scored on Alabama’s third play of the second half for a 21-14 lead. Split out wide, he got a free release down the sideline when free safety T.J. Green failed to come over in support.
He also ran free on a 51-yard score in the fourth quarter. Howard later had a 63-yard reception that set up Alabama’s final touchdown.
Howard hadn’t caught a touchdown pass since his freshman year. He entered the game with 33 receptions this season.
“You can’t get frustrated about not getting the ball,” he said. “You’re definitely not going to get the ball if you’re pouting about it.”
Howard’s talent has never been the question. He now will have a decision to make about the NFL Draft, although he didn’t tip his hand in the postgame press conference.
“He’s really a good athlete and he’s improved tremendously as a player this year and he’s improved his blocking,” Saban said.
The coach said Howard’s production this season was limited as Alabama went through the process ensuring first-year starting quarterback Jake Coker was making safe, comfortable throws.
“I’ll tell you that there was not one time that O.J. was whining about it,” Saban said. “And there wasn’t one time when he didn’t go out there and do what (his) coach asked him to do.”
Dazzling Deshaun
Clemson sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson accounted for 478 yards, which was more than the 467 yards Vince Young produced 10 years ago for Texas in its thrilling BCS title-game win over USC.
“Going into this game, I was expecting to win. I thought we should have won,” Watson said. “But like Coach (Dabo) Swinney said, there were a few plays that we really didn’t capitalize on, and I missed some throws, we dropped some balls and just had some miscues.”
Watson, with 405 passing yards, became the first FBS player ever to have 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a season.
Alabama tidbits
–The guy who kicked the perfect, high-bouncing onside kick was Adam Griffith.
“We practice that once a week,” he said. “I was real confident in it. It was one of the best ones, that’s for sure.”
–Alabama produced 334 of its 473 yards on just eight plays from scrimmage. And then there was Kenyan Drake’s 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
“I always like to see guys who are seniors who have been great contributors in the program do something special that’s going to be a great memory,” Saban said. “And that kickoff return was really something special.”
–Saban didn’t really want to talk about the past and his place in his history by winning his fifth title — one at LSU and four with the Tide. But he did tell ESPN: “This is my — I hate to say — favorite team. I love them all, but these guys have come so far and done so much.”
–It is presumed that Henry will enter the NFL Draft, although he has yet to make an announcement. Even if he leaves, he already has the school rushing record with 3,591 yards, breaking the mark of 3,565 set by Shaun Alexander (1996-99).
Clemson tidbits
–Junior defensive end Shaq Lawson, who already announced he will enter the NFL Draft, had two sacks to finish the season with 25.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. The Tigers’ other defensive end, Kevin Dodd, had a career-high three sacks to give him 12 for the season.
–Coach Dabo Swinney on Alabama’s onside kick: “I felt we had all the momentum. We were ready to get the ball back, confident in where we were. That was a huge play.”
–Junior tight end Jordan Leggett told reporters that he will return for his senior season. Leggett had five catches for 78 yards and one touchdown vs. Alabama.
