One thing that makes quarterbacks successful in college football outside of having a talented offensive line and running backs is having explosive, yet capable receivers to throw the ball to. Believe it or not, receivers play a vital role in making sure the offense is ran to perfection. They have to be physical at the line of scrimmage, create separation in order to get open and make huge plays in passing game by coming up with key receptions.
As a native of Prattville, Ala., OJ Howard attended and played football for Autauga Academy. Under head coach Chris Honeycutt, Howard showed the team and the state of Alabama how versatile he was. Howard was a one man show on the field, as he conquered playing running back, wide receiver and defensive lineman. In his sophomore season, Howard totaled 31 touchdowns on offense. Defensively, he stats sheet was unreal. Howard recorded 89 tackles, four sacks and six interceptions.
While most high school athletes become stars in their senior year, college recruits began salivating over Howard in his junior season. As a junior, Howard became “Mr. Go Get It.” Offensively, he rushed for 487 yards and eight touchdowns. On the receiving end, Howard amassed 41 receptions for 926 yards and 11 touchdowns. He even got the opportunity to play quarterback and that turned out well as he tossed three touchdown passes.
On defense, Howard was still a dominant force. Once again, he had 89 tackles, eight sacks and three forced fumbles. Despite missing some of his senior season due to injury, Howard returned productive. He totaled 854 yards of offense with 12 touchdowns and had 57 tackles on defense.
For his play on the field, Howard was regarded as the top tight end prospect in the 2013 class. He was ranked as a five-star recruit and the No.7 prospect nationally in the Rivals 100. Rivals.com ranked Howard as the No.1 tight end and the No.2 player in the state of Alabama. 247 sports ranked him 20th in its Top 247, the No.1 tight end and No.2 player in Alabama. Scout.com ranked Howard as the No.1 tight end and ESPN listed him as the No.2 tight end.
It wasn’t just media outlets that were getting Howard’s attention. He was named to the Super 12 team by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Howard was a three-time first team AISA All-State selection. He also was the recipient of the AISA 2012 Lineman of the Year Award. In 2013, Howard decided to attend the University of Alabama and team up with the Crimson Tide receiving core. He chose Alabama over Florida, Auburn and Southern California (USC).
Though the first thing that jumps out at people about Howard is his height (6-foot-6, 237 pounds), the aspect of his game that actually should amaze you is his athleticism. For such a physical tight end, Howard has quick feet and can really get open in space. He has soft hands and he’s a crisp route runner. His size and quickness make him a mismatch for any linebacker or cornerback to cover. He may need to work more on his blocking techniques, but as a receiver, Howard has become the newest weapon for AJ McCarron to use.
Thus far as a freshman, Howard hasn’t shied away from making huge contributions in critical games. Currently, he has 10 receptions for 173 yards (17.3 yards per catch) and a touchdown. Despite not playing in the opener against Virginia Tech, Howard put on his gloves and went to work against Texas A&M at Kyle Field. In the matchup against the Aggies, Howard had three receptions for 68 yards and was a key factor in the 49-42 shootout victory.
He had his second multi-reception game the following week against Colorado State. Against the Rams secondary, Howard totaled three receptions for 38 yards. Though he didn’t play against Ole Miss, in the games against Georgia State and Kentucky combined, Howard had three receptions for 50 yards. His first collegiate touchdown came against Arkansas. On a day that McCarron was spreading the wealth; Howard stepped in the line and got his fair share. Though he only had one reception, it was a 17-yard touchdown that put the cap on a 52-0 dominating victory for the Crimson Tide.
The best thing about having a talented receiving core is that you don’t know which person will step up at any given moment. Last season, it was Amari Cooper that went from being a wide-eyed freshman to leading receiving and game changer for the Tide. Howard may not be the leading receiver on the team, but he is making his presence felt on the field with his ability to catch the football and get down field. For the Crimson Tide, they have LSU this week and rest assured that they will try to get the ball in the hands of Howard and watch him go to work. As he continues to grow and develop as a receiver and a blocker, the question for Howard is can he continue to improve and buy into Nick Saban’s system?
