No one is underestimating former Gardendale running back Jordan Howard anymore. The 6-foot, 222-pound rookie has quickly made a name for himself in the National Football League.

Following an injury to fellow ball carrier Jeremy Langford, Howard has tucked up the opportunity to start for the Chicago Bears and, literally, run with it. In just two NFL starts, the former Rocket has rushed for 229 yards on 39 carries.

In his first NFL start—a 17-14 home win over Detroit on Oct. 2—Howard went for 111 yards on 23 attempts while cradling three receptions for another 21 yards. The following week was even better, despite the scoreboard. Howard found his way to a professional end zone for the first time in a 29-23 loss at Indianapolis last Sunday. He received a short check down from Brian Hoyer, spun away from a would-be tackler and ran untouched for a 21-yard touchdown to give Chicago a 23-19 lead in the fourth quarter.

“[Howard] is a good young player,” said coach John Fox to chicagobears.com. “He is big and physical. He has good vision. He has a bright future.”

His production has Fantasy Football owners flocking to Chicago. The 2013 graduate of Gardendale High School is now owned in over 90 percent of ESPN Fantasy Football leagues.

Howard, a two-star prospect out of high school, signed with UAB where he ran for nearly 900 yards as a freshman. Following the program’s fallout, he transferred to Indiana where he posted 145 rushing yards and three touchdowns in his first game with the Hoosiers. He marched on to an All-Big 10 season (196 carries, 1,213 yards and nine scores in nine games) before declaring early for the NFL Draft, where he went in the fifth round to Chicago.

Erik Harris is the Sports Editor of The North Jefferson News. Email him at njnsports@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jeharris2.