Howell has bright future despite lost season

Most people can relate with the frustration of plans not working out how they were expected to for one reason or another.

That's life. The best laid plans of rodents and guys and what not.

What is done when faced with those obstacles is a great way to see what someone is made of, though.

Senior left tackle Tyler Howell understands all of that better than most now. But it took a tough lesson to get him to this place.

"When you're just sitting there waiting to qualify and not handling your business it definitely makes you appreciate what you got now," the 6-foot-8, 330-pound Bonner Springs, Kan. native explained.

Howell originally signed with Mizzou in the 2015 class. However the Butler County transfer didn't make it to Columbia in June or July. That raised some questions, but is not unheard of.

When preseason camp started, though, and Howell still wasn't in Columbia it was obvious there was an issue.

That issue was a notoriously pesky foe and it cost the likely future pro his entire 2015 season.

"It's that college algebra. No need to talk about that anymore. It's over. Let's drop that," Howell said with a laugh.

During the 2015 season Howell stayed at Butler. He couldn't be associated with the football team, though, since he'd exhausted his eligibility.

So Howell worked out on his own preparing himself for his next opportunity.

"I knew it was going to happen. Everything happens for a reason I guess," he stated. "I just needed to sit down and grow up. Handle some stuff. It definitely taught me a lot of patience. I learned a lot."

That season away and the focus it took to stay the course is paying of now for Howell. He started every game at left tackle for Missouri his junior season. He helped anchor a line that paved the way for Josh Heupel and Drew Lock to lead the offense to levels it hadn't been at recently.

Howell is not even close to satisfied though.

"Definitely not being content with where we're at and growing. I wouldn't consider last year a strong season. I don't think we were at where we wanted to be. I feel like we can take everyday as an opportunity to get better," he said.

"I mean I played like trash. Personally I think I played like trash," Howell continued. "We've just got to get better. Run blocking, definitely. Run blocking the most."

Those words and the work he's putting in has begun to transform Howell from a possible academic casualty into a senior leader. Even it's not something he's looking for.

"I wouldn't really say I'm the leader. We have a lot of guys that can handle their business. If me doing the things I need to do is making me a leader I guess I'll take it," Howell said.

Mizzou fans will take it too. That and another season of Howell anchoring the offensive line from left tackle resulting in lots of points for the Tigers.

After the season a future in the NFL seems like a real possibility for the mammoth athlete. Nice try college algebra.