Scott Cochran continues to bring Crimson Tide flavor to his staff at West Alabama.
The former Alabama football strength and conditioning coach has now hired former UA tight end O.J. Howard as director of player development, the program announced Tuesday.
“We’re thrilled to welcome another Alabama Football legend and NFL Champion, O.J. Howard,” Cochran said in a statement. “O.J. was an outstanding athlete at Alabama, earning a first-round NFL Draft selection, but what truly set him apart was his leadership. He is a leader of men, and that’s exactly why he’s the perfect fit for this role.”
Howard joins Blake Sims and Ronnie Clark among former Alabama players to join Cochran’s staff.
Howard, a Prattville native, played for the Crimson Tide from 2013 through 2016. During that time, he won a national championship during the 2015 season. Then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Howard with the 19th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Howard played for the Buccaneers from 2017 through 2021. The 2020 team won the Super Bowl. Howard also made stops with the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and Las Vegas Raiders. He hasn’t played in a game since 2022.
