O.J. Howard

Classroom

O.J. Howard graduated with his undergraduate degree in May 2016 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the sport business management program at the University of Alabama. He earned dean’s list honors in his final semester of undergrad and maintains a 3.0 grade-point average.

Character

Howard is a vocal leader who also leads by the example he displays both on and off the field. He is on the team’s leadership council and has earned a spot as a game captain on numerous occasions. Howard makes an effort to be available to the media and fans, win or lose, always displaying a positive and helpful attitude. He goes out of his way to accommodate team members, football staff members and media members despite having a loaded schedule with athletics and his classes as a graduate student.

Community

Howard has spent extensive time working with the elderly and youth organizations across Alabama and regularly visits children’s hospitals in Birmingham. He has spent time at the children’s hospital in New Orleans during the team’s two trips to New Orleans and also spent time at the Dallas children’s hospital during the trip to the 2015 Goodyear Cotton Bowl. Howard has volunteered numerous hours at retirement homes across Tuscaloosa and made visits to the Tuscaloosa VA hospital in each of the last three years. Most recently, Howard spent a day this summer doing a Habitat for Humanity build with his teammates and also helped in packing up football equipment for schools in West Virginia affected by the significant floods that affected the state over this past summer.

Competition

One of the top tight ends in the nation, Howard was selected to the Mackey, Maxwell, Wuerffel and Lombardi Award Preseason Watch Lists. He finished his junior season as the team leader in yards per catch, averaging 15.8 yards per reception thanks to his 38 catches for 602 yards. Twenty-four of his catches converted first downs for the Tide with nine going for 20 yards or more. Howard was selected as the MVP of the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship Game thanks to his five catches for a career-high 208 yards and two touchdowns against Clemson. He had 17 catches for 260 yards as a sophomore to average 15.3 yards per catch and played in all 13 games during his freshman season, making five starts. He also caught 14 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns in his first season of collegiate football.