Third-year varsity starter Howie can play on both sides of the football, but has found a perfect fit as linebacker.
"I'm a hitter. I like to hit," Howie said.
Howie embraces the leadership role and leads his fellow Warriors by example.
"I will take my team and together we will fight as hard as we can until the last whistle blows," Howie said.
"I'm so proud to be a part of this team. We did good last year and I have a good feeling about this year," he said.
Howie is full throttle at practice, in the weight room and on Friday nights. Howie has been hitting the weights since December and has been at 27 of 30 summer workouts, Head Coach Mike Mayer said.
"He is wide open and plays every play at maximum speed. You never question his effort," Mayer said. "He has never loafed on a single play."
Howie's solid stats include 77 total tackles, 62 of which were solo, 14 tackles resulted in lost yardage, two fumbles recovered, two touchdowns and three passes broken up.
Howie has followed the generation-old cleat marks left by his father, Joe, on Indian Land's field, The Reservation. With a solid 3.3 GPA, the younger Howie is very likely to fulfill his dream of taking the Howie skills to the collegiate gridiron, something his father had hoped to do.
Howie's laser focus often results in one answer responses to questions. If asked what he loves about football, he says, "Everything."
Defensive Line Coach Terry Lasyone said, "Howie will lay a hit on you!".
Player after player described Howie as their brother and spoke of their love and loyalty for him that go beyond the football field. All said he inspires them to be better players and better people.
"As a player, he is outstanding - one of the best we have on the field. He has a big heart and cares a lot about his friends and family," said Linebacker Ethan Burdette.
"He is always there when you need him and can help with almost anything. He is the type of guy you want around."
Howie's mom, Teresa Thomas, describes her son as having a compassionate heart and a sense of humor who can bring the best out in anyone.
"Anytime I have been a little down, he finds a way to make me smile," Thomas said.
"He is my heart. He is my angel," she said.
His dream is to play for Coastal Carolina, but he will gladly play for any college willing to take a look at him.
"If they want me to play football for 'em, I'll play football for 'em," Howie said.
He made that statement standing in the doorway of the weight room with the painted words "No Excuses" above his head.
When asked if there was anything he would change about his life, Dillon, without blinking, said, "Not one thing."
August 2016
Contact Mandy Catoe (803) 283-1152
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