PRATTVILLE, Ala. — Former Crimson Tide tight end O.J. Howard may have just been drafted into the NFL, but he certainly has not forgotten about who helped get him there. This past Sunday, the college standout returned to his high school, Autauga Academy, for a backpack drive and community day.
At the event, Howard gave away over 200 backpacks with school supplies inside to local children. The “Got Da Juice” community day also included additional activities for kids and their families to enjoy before going back to school.
“It was an opportunity for all the kids in the neighborhood and surrounding areas to come out and get backpacks. We had school supplies inside them, bouncy houses, games and food,” Howard told the Alabama News Network.
Before becoming a national star at The University of Alabama, Howard was a five-star tight end recruit playing for Autauga Academy’s football team. While playing for the Tide, Howard managed to have his biggest games on the biggest stages, and he earned the Offensive MVP for the 2016 National Championship Game against Clemson.
The native Alabamian will spend his Sundays playing for the Tampa Bay Buccanneers after being selected nineteenth overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. Howard is the first Alabama tight end selected in the first round since Ozzie Newsome in 1978. His rookie deal will pay $11 million over four years and included a $6.2 million signing bonus.
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