It seems funny, but for as sure a thing as Clint Tricket was at the start of last season, when he was firmly entrenched as the starter and there was no concern about a competition or controversy, Skyler Howard has actually been the leader at quarterback for a longer period of time now. Dana Holgorsen didn’t name Trickett his No. 1 until last June. Howard’s been the guy since the spring, and the praise keeps growing.

Now, Trickett did everything he could to validate his bona fides in his first eight games. Howard has yet to do that, and he lacks the experience Trickett had, which is why there is doubt he can be as effective or efficient, doubt that swelled after the bowl game.

That said, Howard has to play, right? I can’t listen to Holgorsen or the teammates glow about Howard and think he’s not best for the offense — and, sure, that might change over time if the offense sputters and passes sail or bounce to avoid the target. But right now, on the cusp of camp, it’s Howard, a gap and then William Crest, which might worry you. Howard knows that — all of that, I would imagine — which is why he’s working on himself to make sure he stays in the game and on task during games this season.

“I’ve been thinking about maybe not taking as many shots as Clint did,” said Howard, who is 6 feet tall and 208 pounds. “I’ve been working on the slide a little bit. It’s going to be an area of emphasis.”

Howard’s a more willing and more able runner than Trickett was. Holgorsen will call plays that ask Howard to run or give him the option to keep the ball. Howard will also sometimes run out of a pass play and try to gain yards with his legs that he couldn’t get with his arm.

With his value now increased, there will likely be fewer personalized running plays. With Howard much more familiar with the offense and all its plays and parts, he probably won’t bail on plays and scramble on his own as much, either.

When he hasn’t been working on his degree in communication studies, Howard has been shoring up his footwork and his positioning in the pocket so he’s plugged into plays for longer.

“My drop had been kind of closed off a little bit,” he said, “but I’m opening that up to where I can see the whole field more.”