| photos Courtesy of Delano Howell
Football. It’s four quarters of intensity, thrill and pure adrenaline. Rain or shine, hail or snow, nothing stops players from taking the field, and for a fan, seeing the offense take the ball and head toward the end zone is sheer excitement; watching defense make a stellar tackle…well it’s just pure bliss. From pop warner to the pros, football is one of America’s beloved sports.
For many young athletes, dreams of playing in the NFL are always a goal, but are only accomplished by few. Some Santa Claritans who have made their way to the pros include Manuel White, former quarterback for Washington Redskins, Kyle Boller, former quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers, Darryl Ingram, tight end for the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers, Joe Kapp, who led the Minnesota Vikings to Superbowl IV, Matt Moore who played for the Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins, and Fred Cornwell, Dallas Cowboys’ tight end, to name a few.
Joining some of the crew of Santa Clarita alumni is Hart High School graduate and current safety for the Indianapolis Colts, Delano Howell. Delano signed with the Colts last November after playing for the Buffalo Bills his first year. At the time of print, the Colts were seeded first in the AFC Southern Division.
Delano’s success on the field certainly didn’t begin at the professional level. In fact, when the former running back for Hart High School wore the Indians jersey, he set multiple school records, including rushing yards, total touchdowns and points scored, to name a few. Some of his accomplishments include being ranked number 17 running back in the nation by scout.com, named 2007 All-Santa Clarita Valley Player of the Year, All-West Region for the Class of 2008 by PrepStar. In his senior year, the Indians went 12-1-1, with Delano rushing for 2,249 yards, with 23 touchdowns on carries alone.
Football wasn’t the only sport Delano excelled in. He also ran track for the Indians as a sprinter, long jumper, and triple jumper and should come as no surprise that he was named Athlete of the Year in his senior year.
After graduation, Delano attended Stanford University, where he competed in both football and track & field. Wearing the number 26, Delano started 33 of his 43 games played and was named All-Pac-12 Conference first-team selection his senior year. Delano was also a recipient of the Jack Huston Award, for his exceptional performance on the field and was named to the All-Pac-12 Conference first team.
Playing for the NFL was on the horizon for this young star as the Indianapolis Colts signed Delano Howell, making it official on November 28, 2012. His first career game as a Colt was on December 2.
After his first season with the Colts, Delano made his way back to the Santa Clarita Valley this last summer. Delano along with Pittsburgh Steelers Isaiah Huddle, Cleveland Browns defensive back, Johnson Bademosi and a team of community members helped coach 10-14 year-old athletes at a football camp held at Valencia High School in an effort to give back to our community. “He wanted to donate his time to local football teams in our area,” states Christian Bonilla, one of the organizers of the event. “Delano is a great guy and the kids had a blast.”
Wearing number 26 for the Colts once again, Delano made his way back to the field for the 2013 NFL season. We wish you the best, Delano!
 
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