FWST: TCU players, coaches wary of Howard’s improved play

The offseason improvement of West Virginia quarterback Skyler Howard, a senior from White Settlement Brewer, has become one of the favorite topics this season for Mountaineers coach Dana Holgorsen.

Holgorsen said the team’s offensive execution as been “1,000 times better” this season as Howard, a second-year starter, has meshed with his receivers and first-year offensive coordinator Joe Wickline. TCU players and coaches have noticed the same thing heading into Saturday’s game between the Horned Frogs (4-2, 2-1 in Big 12) and No. 12 West Virginia (5-0, 2-0) in Morgantown, W.V.

Howard has thrown for 318 yards per game with a 66.1 percent completion rate this season, up from last year’s 54.8 mark (lowest among Big 12 starters last year). He’s also second on the team in rushing touchdowns (3), including two in last week’s 48-17 rout of Texas Tech.