Hoover RB Erick Howard wins Mr. Football

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — North Canton Hoover’s Erick Howard has become the second Ohio prep star to twice win the Associated Press Mr. Football award, selected by a media panel as the top high school player in the state in both 2008 and 2009.

A 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior, Howard once again had staggering regular-season stats: 299 carries for 1,957 yards and 26 touchdowns as a running back; and 102 tackles, five tackles for a loss, three sacks, four fumbles caused and an interception as a middle linebacker.

Including a playoff game, he rushed for more than 2,000 yards for the second year in a row, pushing his career total to more than 6,000 yards, 79 touchdowns and 478 points.

The only other two-time winner is Euclid’s Robert Smith, who went on to fame at Ohio State and in the NFL. He was Mr. Football in 1988 and 1989.