Click here for linkFew players have seen their stock soar as quickly as Autauga Academy tight end O.J. Howard this summer, and the Alabama commit will have another chance to impress national analysts and scouts next week in Oregon at Nike's The Opening, a competitive combine-style event that features the top 150 prospects in the nation.
"I might not go out there and run the fastest 40, of course, but I just want to be the guy that goes out there and everybody can say, 'this guy came out to compete,'" Howard told BamaOnline. "I want to go out there, compete, and show what I have."
Howard earned plenty of high ratings from the various recruiting services last year despite playing at the AISA level (he's rated the No. 2 tight end prospect in the nation by all four major services) but his performances at various national and regional events this summer have established him as arguably the top tight end prospect in the nation.
"I always say 'football is football'. You still have to run and jump," Howard said. "I hear people saying I can't do that stuff in the SEC, and I know it's going to be tough, but I really think I can do it. I go to combines with all of these top level athletes and come out on top sometimes and if I don't, still show that I can hang with them. I know it's not in pads, but I'm still catching the ball." ...
Total Members: