Parkersburg LB Howard to continue at Marietta College
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PARKERSBURG -- Zach Howard has a lot of future plans, but the most immediate one is playing football at Marietta College.
The Parkersburg High School senior linebacker recently announced his commitment to the Division III Pioneers of head coach Andy Waddle.
"I got an official visit with coach Waddle and they showed me around their campus," said Howard, who earned three letters as a Big Red and was the team's second leading tackler during his junior and senior campaigns. "They had me at lunch and showed me their football facility, their uniforms and talked about their program.
"One thing I found especially that I liked, coach Waddle has a personal connection with each player. He knew a background story about each one of them. He isn't just for football. He's about life lessons as well and where you are going to go after you graduate college."
An A-student in the classroom who also is a member of the PHS a cappella choir, Howard said he plans to major in the medical field with hopes of eventually becoming a physicians assistant or a physical therapist.
"Eventually in the long run I'm going to have to go to med school," admitted Howard, who is a commanding officer for the NJROTC. "I think my four years after college I might go to the military after and go through med school."
A three-year letterman in both football and wrestling, the Big Red was a two-time state placer on the mat and is competing in track this spring for the first time.
Along with Marietta College, the Big Red also made official visits for football to Wheeling Jesuit and Waynesburg. Following the state mat tournament, Howard said he also had wrestling interest from Glenville State, Davis & Elkins and Muskingum.
"Choosing between the two options was very difficult for me," said the Big Red, who had 81 total tackles as a senior with three dozen being unassisted. "I love the sports about equally the same for different reasons, but when it came down to it I figured football is going to be my thing.
"When Marietta was talking to me about how they are potentially going to have a wrestling program in the next few years they said I could potentially be one of the first guys on the roster when they get that program started up."
Thanks to his financial aid package, Howard noted he was going to college "for next to nothing" and is excited about having a shot at playing time this fall.
"When I talked to him he said he was graduating pretty much a lot of linebackers this year," continued Howard.
"My plan is to go into the offseason after track and start grinding and my goal is to not let anyone outwork me or out-condition me."
The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder also has two jobs and said he doesn't foresee any issue about becoming a successful student-athlete at the next level.
"I feel pretty good about it. I haven't had below a 3.5 (GPA) all four years in high school," he said. "I think I'll be all right in college."
When it comes to his time at "The School of Champions" the Big Red added he definitely will remember "the tradition. The tradition and all the coaches and all my teammates being able to grind with me and the blood, sweat and tears on that field.
"Some of the best bonds I've had in my life. I'm excited for the new experience and the journey that lies before me. I think it will be a pretty cool experience and something to look forward to."
Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com