Bill Howard was a star linebacker and bulldozing fullback for the 1959 and 1960 East E-Rabs. He earned first-team all-conference both seasons as a running back for East teams that featured star quarterbacks Ron Fearn and Ron Christian. His senior year, he gained 507 yards on 92 carries.
His play was so impressive in 1960, a season in which East went just 4-5, he was picked as the area's inaugural Prep of the Year by the Rockford newspapers.
Although he was sought out by numerous major football programs, he followed in his father's footsteps - the Howards ran Rockford Blacktop for decades - by going to Purdue.
It took a while for Howard to find his footing at Purdue. He didn't letter as a sophomore or start as a junior. In 1964, the Boilermakers moved him from offensive and defensive guard to linebacker and he thrived with his teammates voting him top defensive player of the year. Purdue finished third in the Big Ten that year with a 5-2 record and 6-3 overall.
After graduating, Howard returned to Rockford and followed his father's footsteps into a long career with Rockford Blacktop.
| No. 84 - Bill Howard, East | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Level | School | Accomplishments | Points |
| 1959 | High School | East | First Team All-Conference | 2 |
| Winning Team | 1 | |||
| 1960 | High School | East | First Team All-Conference | 2 |
| Prep of the Year | 1 | |||
| 1961 | College | Purdue | Freshman at Power 5 School | 2 |
| 1962 | College | Purdue | Player at Power 5 School | 2 |
| 1963 | College | Purdue | Letter Winner at Power 5 School | 4 |
| Winning Team | 1 | |||
| 1964 | College | Purdue | Letter Winner at Power 5 School | 4 |
| Starter | 1 | |||
| Winning Team | 1 | |||
| Total | 21 | |||
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