NSR Prospect O.J. Howard signs with Crimson Tide

NSR 2013 football prospect, OJ Howard, from Autauga Academy in Autauga, Alabama signed a National Letter of Intent with defending BCS National Champion Alabama on National Signing Day.  Ranked by Rivals.com as a five-star prospect, OJ is part of the Crimson Tide’s top rated recruiting class which includes five other five-star recruits.  The 6’6” 220-pound tight end is expected to compete for playing time right away.  As an early enrollee on the Tuscaloosa campus, OJ spoke to ESPN about his decision to attend Alabama.

“A lot of other schools talked to me about starting something new,” Howard said. “To me, that would be making it about me. I don’t want it to be about me, I want it to be about the team. I want to work hard and earn my spot. If it was easy to play at Alabama, everybody would do it. It’s not easy to live up to the legacy they have built there.”

Carrying a 3.3 GPA, OJ was a three-time All-State selection and was recruited by every major college football program in the nation.  He was the first 2013 prospect to verbally commit to Saban when he announced his decision early in his junior year of high school.  His NSR scout is Coach Robert Cagle who covers southern Alabama.

“NSR really is different and OJ Howard manifests that difference,” said NSR president Rusty Rigney upon learning of OJ’s signing.  “The prospects we search for, personally scout, interview and enroll are true student-athletes.  Our on-the-ground scouts identify prospects which are excellent reflections of their families, schools and communities.  While we place prospects at every level of college athletics from the highest level of NCAA DI competition to junior colleges, we recognize that OJ is an ideal example of the type of high school athlete we seek to represent and promote to college coaches.  He is a young man who possesses athletic talent, solid grades, a supportive family and high character.  We couldn’t be prouder to be associated with this quality young man.”