DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — Erick Howard is turning his life around. Being the 22nd winner of The Associated Press Mr. Football award is just a sign along the way that he's on the right road.

Howard, announced Tuesday as the choice of a media panel from around the state in one of the closest votes ever, is a tough running back at North Canton Hoover. His numbers on the field are impressive. That he's trying to change direction off it is far more important.

"I used to be what you might call a mess-up," the 5-foot-10, 210-pound junior said. "I got into trouble. I did not get good grades. But I've worked really hard the last year and a half and I feel like I'm turning my life around."

His father was killed in an industrial accident when he was 8 years old. His mother recently traveled to the Pacific Northwest to be with Erick's sister, who is having her first child.

Erick has gotten by because of football. It has been his life raft. He basically lives in the basement of coach Don Hertler's home.

"He's a good kid. He just hasn't had ..." — here is when Hertler searches for just the right words — "... much of a foundation. But for the first time in his life, there's stability."

Hoover went 9-1 in the regular season, sliding into the top 10 teams in the state in Division I. The main reason was Howard.

He carried 285 times for 1,795 yards and scored 25 touchdowns. While piling up 2,322 all-purpose yards, he totaled 28 touchdowns. When he wasn't racing past defenders, he was a defender racing up to make tackles. Playing linebacker, he had three sacks, two interceptions, caused two fumbles and had six tackles for minus yardage.

With Howard doing yeoman work, the Vikings made their first trip to the state semifinals in more than 20 years before losing to Cleveland St. Ignatius. Howard finished with 2,387 yards on 404 carries with 31 touchdowns.

"As a running back, he's got good speed, great power, great balance," Hertler said. "No one ever talks about his balance, but he finds yards that most guys don't find."

Howard has also found friends in the program, teammates who stand by him and help him. He returns the favor.

"When a game's on the line, he has that extra 'it' to do what needs to be done and to win the game," Hertler said. "I don't know how many fourth quarters he has been given the ball and won the game for us."

Howard had to leave the state semifinal game because he had either broken his hand or sustained ligament damage. Hertler had to argue with him to keep him from going back on the field.

After playing some as a freshman, Howard met a Division I college coach who said he liked what he had seen on the field. But, the coach cautioned, Howard's grades had to come up and he had to stay out of trouble if he wanted to stay on track for college.

So Howard worked on his grades, started spending more time in the weight room and off the streets and hung out with his teammates. His grade point average improved.

He saw the college coach again after his sophomore season. Good, maybe not good enough, he told Howard. He counseled that Howard could do better in the classroom and would likely do even better carrying the ball.

So far, he has.

Then came his breakthrough junior season. He becomes only the second junior to ever win the Mr. Football award, following in the sizable cleats of former Euclid High School, Ohio State and NFL star Robert Smith, who went on to become the only person to win the award twice.

"I want to play college football," Howard said. "I used to get in trouble a lot. But now I'm walking the straight and narrow."

By the narrowest of margins, Howard won the Mr. Football award. He beat out Cincinnati Elder quarterback Mark Miller, Columbus DeSales' Josh Kusan and Newark Licking Valley's Storm Klein. Other finalists included: Pickerington Central's Zach Boren, Fostoria's Micah Hyde, Eric Page of Holland Springfield and Dover's Corey Lisowski.

Howard will receive a plaque in the shape of the state.