Auburndale’s Star Junior Running Back: Anthony Howard Jr
Anthony Howard Jr is a 4 Star recruit who plays Running Back at Auburndale High School. Howard Jr is ranked as the 298th best recruit in the class of 2028 and is ranked as a top 25 Running Back in the class as well. In addition, Howard Jr is listed as a top 50 recruit in the state of Florida and is listed as the #4 Running Back in the state of Florida. His top 7 schools are Ohio State, Notre Dame, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, Auburn and Miami.
Who are some role models in your life?
My parents are my biggest role models because they’ve always pushed me to keep going through every challenge. My faith in God is also the foundation of everything I do, and I look up to athletes who stay humble and work hard no matter the circumstances.
What artists do you listen to pregame, to get you hyped up?
I listen to NBA YoungBoy, Lil Baby, Rod Wave, Future, and sometimes Christian music or worship music to keep my mind focused before kickoff.
What are the strengths of your game?
I’m a complete running back. I can run between the tackles, make people miss in space, catch the ball out of the backfield, protect the quarterback, and compete every snap. I take pride in being dependable in every situation.
What is your favorite memory of your career?
Being named a Freshman All-American and earning Division I offers early in my career. It showed me that hard work pays off, but I’m still chasing much bigger goals.
Who is the best player you have ever played with or played against in your career?
I’ve been blessed to compete with and against a lot of talented players, especially at IMG Academy. Every game taught me something, and those experiences made me a better competitor.
What is some advice you would give to an aspiring D1 athlete?
Stay disciplined when nobody’s watching. Trust God’s timing, outwork everyone, take care of your body, and don’t let rankings or opinions define you. Consistency beats talent when talent doesn’t work.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I’d love to visit Greece because of the history and the scenery. It seems like an incredible place to experience.
How old were you when you fell in love with the game?
I was around 4 years old. That’s when I realized football was more than just a game to me; it became something I wanted to dedicate myself to.
If you could meet one sports hero, who would it be?
Barry Sanders and Saquon Barkley. I’d love to learn how they stayed so humble while being some of the greatest running backs ever. In addition, just watching how Saquon’s mentality shows that God can turn nothing into something!
What is your favorite sports moment, as a fan?
I would say definitely the college football game day where they talk about sports and tailgating. That always gets me pumped and makes me want to go out and play.
