Definitely draft O.J. Howard if you’re an NFL team that plays Clemson

Former Alabama tight end O.J. Howard put together a modest career during his four seasons with the Crimson Tide, at least statistically speaking. The former five-star recruit’s stat line for 2013 and 2014 combined was just 529 yards and two touchdowns. The next two seasons, his numbers were a bit higher, with 1,197 yards and five touchdowns.

But most of those stats were from the final games of the Tide’s seasons. He only had two 100-yard games in his entire college career, despite being one of the highest-rated TE recruits ever.

So you’re probably thinking: Wait, how does a former star recruit end up having such low numbers? Well for starters, Alabama and Nick Saban don’t utilize tight ends that much. But the thing about Howard that makes him so unique is that his biggest games were on the Tide’s biggest stages.

Coming into this game two years ago, Howard’s best game of the season was in Week 3 against Ole Miss with 70 yards and no touchdowns. In fact, he didn’t have a single touchdown during the regular season. But former Bama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin proved he was just saving one of his best weapons for the last game of the season, apparently.

First, Howard had a 53-yard touchdown to give the Tide a 21-14 lead in the third quarter. Kiffin saw the touchdown before the ball even made it into Howard’s hands. You can see him jumping on the sideline:

He had another 51-yard score in the fourth quarter. Alabama won that game against Clemson 45-40, and Howard became an overnight sensation, years after his high school hype.

Howard’s 33 receptions in 2015 were the most of any Alabama tight end during the Nick Saban era in Tuscaloosa. But Howard might have been the most-hyped tight end recruit ever, and it wasn’t until the final game of his junior year that he truly showed his gigantic talent. Without Howard, Alabama might not beat Clemson, so I’m sure Tide fans will certainly say, “Better late than never.”

“O.J., quite honestly, should have been more involved all year long,” Saban said. “Sometimes he was open and we didn’t get him the ball. But I think the last two games have been breakout games for him in terms of what he’s capable of 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.”

In 2016, Howard was able to get a couple touchdowns during the regular season. Just like in 2015, he had yet to have a 100-yard game, heading into the national title rematch against Clemson in January.

And then, in the third quarter, Howard struck again with a 68-yard touchdown reception.

This last one is a bit ironic, given Clemson’s defensive coordinator Brent Venables comments leading up to the game.

“We completely ignored him, I know, last year,” Venables said via ESPN. “So we did a terrible job at defending him, obviously. And if we do it again, we’ll lose again.”

Venables was wrong about the last part, but just barely.

Howard’s Alabama career ended with 595 yards in his senior season and just three touchdowns, one scored in the national title game. At the Senior Bowl earlier this year, he had no idea why he wasn’t utilized more in the Tide’s offense. But Howard certainly doesn’t believe he’s a one-hit wonder.

“I have no idea, honestly man,” Howard said when asked why he was used so infrequently at Alabama at the Senior Bowl. “It was kind of a question mark my whole career about that, but I’ve never been able to give an answer to this day.”

Howard came to Alabama as the top tight end recruit in the nation and a consensus five-star prospect, but finished his career with just seven touchdown receptions. His only two games with more than 100 receiving yards were his pair of national championship performances against Clemson.

“I can be a guy like that every game,” Howard said. “Being able to make those plays in big moments is huge, but I feel like I’m the type of player who can do that consistently.

“It was a little bit that the game plan was different and a little bit just being able to make plays -- in the right place at the right time and having the opportunities. I was thankful for those games, I got the opportunity to show off the ability that I have in those last two games on a big stage.”

Howard is projected to go in the first round of the draft, but it’s a bit unclear where exactly he’ll land. In SB Nation’s latest mock draft has Howard landing with the Carolina Panthers with the No. 8 overall pick.