'10 OH RB Erick Howard

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by Buckeyecty4

It's November folks, there will be numerous backs to come into the picture as the months move forward, why are we limiting ourselves to deciding between Howard, Ware, Smith, and Brown?

This time last yr, was anyone even discussing Berry and Hyde?

I'll wait awhile longer before crowing these four kids mentioned as the pecking order for OSU RBs in 2010

Obviously you can make this point, but if Berry and Hyde were from Ohio or the midwest for that matter everyone here would of been talking about them...Thus the talk about Howard and Ware, and Smith and Brown, one with an offer and another with talk about interest from us...

[akronbuck]

Inland District All Stars
Division 1
1st team RB and offensive player of the year

[RB07OSU]

Originally Posted by Buckeyecty4

It's November folks, there will be numerous backs to come into the picture as the months move forward, why are we limiting ourselves to deciding between Howard, Ware, Smith, and Brown?

This time last yr, was anyone even discussing Berry and Hyde?

I'll wait awhile longer before crowing these four kids mentioned as the pecking order for OSU RBs in 2010

True but OSU has already offered both Brown and Ware. We are going to pursue those 2 hard but I think we get one at best anyways. Smith and Howard are similar backs though, so I'm sure there could be competition for an offer if/when one of the top 2 backs falls through.

[snow]

Howard finishes the season with 2,387 yards on 404 carries ? the fourth-most prolific rushing season in Stark County history.

[osuturfman]

North Canton Hoover RB wins Mr. Football award - cleveland.com

2008 Mr. Football

[Tresselbeliever]

no way.

[keylime_5]

way to go Erick!
Man I hope we end up offering this kid. He kinda reminds me of Maurice Jones-Drew on his film.

[CleveBucks]

Sounds like he's headed in the right direction.

North Canton Hoover junior wins close race for top honor

Erick Howard is turning his life around. Being the 22nd winner of the Associated Press Mr. Football award is just a sign along the way that he's on the right road.

Howard, announced yesterday as the choice by a media panel from around the state in one of the closest votes ever, is a tough running back at North Canton Hoover.

Other finalists were Cincinnati Elder quarterback Mark Miller, DeSales running back-linebacker Josh Kusan, Licking Valley running back Storm Klein, Pickerington Central linebacker Zach Boren, Fostoria's Micah Hyde, Holland Springfield's Eric Page and Dover's Corey Lisowski.

Howard's numbers on the field are impressive. That he's trying to change direction off the field is far more important.

"I used to be what you might call a mess-up," the 5-foot-10, 210-pound junior said. "I got into trouble. I did not get good grades. But I've worked really hard the last year and a half and I feel like I'm turning my life around."

cont...

[Buckskin86]

Erick Howard: The Repository's Player of the Year
Thursday, November 27, 2008
BY TODD PORTER
TODD.PORTER@CANTONREP.COM

Just as Erick Howard and his determined eyes must do when holes open before him, the Hoover High School junior can run where the opening is supposed to be, or he can improvise and choose another path.

Howard has been making these kinds of decisions all his life. It's only been in the last year that he seems to be hitting the right ones.

Howard led Hoover to one of its most successful football seasons in school history. He carried the ball 404 times for 2,387 yards. He scored 34 touchdowns, 31 on the ground. He was the team's third-leading tackler with 98, playing about half of the defensive snaps.

At running back and linebacker, he excels at both. He is The Repository's 2008 Stark County Player of the Year.

On the field, Howard is 210 pounds of fury, but it is a controlled fury now. He is not running from his past but running toward his future.

Off the field, he is a 17-year-old good-natured kid who has found his will in life but still searches for his way.

Hertler called Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel for advice.

"Coach Tressel suggested the idea of a contract," Hertler said. "So we put everything in writing."

And there are consequences if expectations are not met.

"He gets shipped back to Seattle," Hertler said.

The first grading period of this year, Howard received four B's and two C's.

"That was the first time I saw a B on my report card since the fifth grade," Howard said. "(Ohio State offensive coordinator) Jim Bollman came to North Canton once, and he told me Ohio State wouldn't even look at me because of my grades. That stuck with me."

Howard's grade-point average is up to a C-average. He is planning to take a college entrance exam early next year.

CantonRep.com | The Canton Repository | Canton, Stark County & Northeast Ohio News, Community Events & Classifieds

[Buckskin86]

Fresh start
Junior returns to Ohio with new focus on school
By David Lee Morgan Jr.
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Thursday, Nov 27, 2008

His mind and conscience are clear. He knows what he wants out of life. And he isn't looking to the past, only moving forward to a bright future.

For North Canton Hoover junior running back Erick Howard, who is the Beacon Journal Football Player of the Year, life has new meaning, and that new life started in August.

Howard's mother, Ruth, wanted him to move to Seattle with her so he could spend time with his sister, who had just given birth to her first child.

Howard resisted but followed and respected his mother's wishes.

''My sister's husband is in the service, and he left for Iraq, so my mother wanted me to go out there, help my sister and go to school there,'' Howard said.

''I went out to Seattle around Aug. 7, and it was more culturally diverse there,'' Howard said. ''But the crazy thing I noticed was that blacks only talked to the blacks, the Chinese only talked to other Chinese and Indians only talked to other Indians. To me it was really segregated.''

Howard didn't want his mother or sister to think that he was giving up on them, but he wanted to go back to Ohio.

He missed his friends and teammates. He begged his mother to let him return.

She was reluctant but eventually gave in.

''You know that saying, 'Home is where the heart is,' well, my heart was in [North Canton], and that's where I wanted my home to be,'' he said. ''I wanted to be back with my friends, and I didn't want to miss the football season here.''

Ohio.com - Fresh start

[Smooth Olaf]

Man, good for him. As a Hoover alum, I'm really pulling for this guy.

[GoodLifeSean]

Congrats to Erick, both on the Mr. Football and getting his grades up. Hopefully with that news he can get an offer pretty soon.

[wadc45]

The amount of attendtion OSU is paying to OOS RBs makes me leery about the possibility of an early offer...

[snow]

is a C- gpa really enough for erick to get an offer?

[gracelhink]

Originally Posted by snow

is a C- gpa really enough for erick to get an offer?

C- average could be a 1.5-1.9 GPA and if this were his senior season it could not pass admission standards at tOSU. Admissions both tOSU and the NCAA clearinghouse operates on a formula which requires a higher ACT score to balance a low GPA. OSU minimum admission standards are higher than NCAA's unfortunately.

"(Ohio State offensive coordinator) Jim Bollman came to North Canton once, and he told me Ohio State wouldn't even look at me because of my grades. That stuck with me."

Fortunately EH has 7 quarters left to increase that GPA, but as he knows from the Repository article, a strong ACT score could make a difference.

Howard's grade-point average is up to a C-average. He is planning to take a college entrance exam early next year.

EH is headed in the right direction. The talent is certainly there, and with some focus on classwork and strong ACT, he could potentially meet the tOSU standards for admissions.