Erick Howard, Ohio's Two-Time Mr. Football, Headed To Akron

Erick Howard of Hoover High School (North Canton, Ohio) will sign with the University of Akron and play for the Zips, according to reports from a number of Northeast Ohio media.

Howard ran for 2,056 yards and 27 touchdowns during his senior season, earning his second selection as Ohio’s “Mr. Football.” Howard also won the award his junior year after rushing for 2,387 yards and 31 touchdowns while leading the upstart Vikings to the state final four.

He finished his career with 6,013 rushing yards, an all-time record in Stark County, one of the nation’s high school football hotbeds. He also set county records for touchdowns (79) and points scored (478).

The two-way star, who was named Stark County and Federal League player of the year two years running, led Hoover’s defense at linebacker and was their premier kickoff return specialist.

Adding to his list of postseason honors, Howard was named to Parade Magazine’s 2009 All-America team.

Howard drew attention from BCS schools, but academics played a factor in his decision to sign with Akron. He had also been recruited heavily by Toledo, while Cincinnati, Colorado and Kent State reportedly offered scholarships as well.

According to a report by Todd Porter in The Repository (Canton, Ohio), Howard would have needed a 2.2 GPA to be considered by a BCS school for a scholarship. A 2.0 GPA will enable him to avoid Proposition 48 and play for a Mid-American Conference school as a freshman, and he may qualify.

By his own admission, Howard performed poorly in the classroom his freshman year and has been working hard to make up for it ever since.

At Akron, Howard will join new Head Coach Rob Ianello, who was hired to turn around the Zips program. Akron christened their sparkling new InfoCision Stadium on campus last fall but endured a disappointing inaugural season there.

Ianello, a former assistant coach at Notre Dame, was considered perhaps the top recruiter for the Irish under former coach Charlie Weis. Landing Howard is an early coup for the new Zips boss.

Howard will continue his career close to home. The Akron campus is just 15 minutes north of his hometown of North Canton.

For the Zips, he’ll follow in the footsteps of another star Hoover running back. Bobby Hendry played for Akron from 2000 to 2003, rushing for 2,847 yards, fifth best in school history.