Another former recruit for Nick Saban departs Alabama in favor of an HBCU
With Terrance Howard on board, North Carolina Central appears to be well-positioned to contend in the MEAC.
Terrance Howard, a former defensive back for Alabama under Nick Saban, is leaving the Crimson Tide to play at HBCUs. Steven J. Gaither of HBCU Gameday reports that the gifted defensive stalworth will be joining the North Carolina Central Eagles. Despite Howard’s commitment to play for Alabama in 2023, he was not included in the playing lineup during Nick Saban’s final season as head coach.
A few weeks ago, Howard made his transfer official. On his social media, he shared a note that said,
“I want to start by giving thanks to God for helping me on my life’s journey and in my love of playing sports.
Next, I want to express my gratitude to the staff and coaches for helping me grow as a man and for pushing me to be better. Learning from all of you has been a true blessing.
I also want to thank all of my brothers and comrades; the unique ties we formed in these few moments were absolutely incredible.
Not to mention, I’d like to thank Bama Nation for all of the crazy times you’ve always had. I’ll be logging onto the transfer portal with four years of eligibility after giving it some thought.
Howard was a standout cornerback at Ridge Point High School in Texas, where he succeeded and was nominated for the All-District team in 2021. With 41 tackles, two sacks, one interception, and eight pass breakups, he demonstrated his abilities. He also excelled on the track, winning championships including the district 20-6A 400-meter champion and the regional qualifier with a time of 48.75. After moving to Jireh Prep close to Charlotte in 2022, he made an immediate impression on the field and in the classroom, garnering selections to the Post Grad All-Star team and nominations for Offensive Player of the Year.
He received a lot of interest from HBCUs in the SWAC and MEAC, including Texas Southern and Southern University, after logging into the transfer site. In the end, he made the decision to enroll in North Carolina Central, a team that had just finished the previous season with an FCS Playoff berth and a Celebration Bowl triumph. Howard wants to replace players who have made significant contributions on the defensive end, like Brandon Codrington, who just signed an undrafted free agent contract with the New York Jets, and Khalil Baker, the 2022 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and the inaugural Aeneas Williams Award winner.
The most recent player from Alabama to depart the Crimson Tide and enroll at an HBCU is Howard. Through the transfer site, Grambling gained former Alabama placekicker Reed Harradine in April. Despite not playing for the Crimson Tide this season, Harradine is presently facing legal action stemming from an October hit-and-run in Tuscaloosa that involved a collision with Timothy Moore’s car.
In a statement, the Harradine family’s attorneys opposed the lawsuit.
“In an effort to advance their legal practice, Mr. Moore’s lawyers are trying to harm our son’s reputation. That Mr. Moore’s attorneys would take the case to the public is disgraceful. It is uncommon, if not unheard of, for a legal practice to address a traffic accident at a press conference.
“We disagree with allegations suggesting Mr. Moore suffered serious injuries in the collision,” they continued. The statement added, “We all look forward to mounting a strong defense in a courtroom.
