Published: October 23, 2009 08:46 am      

Stephens-Howling earns one more NCAA honor

Johnstown’s LaRod Stephens-Howling might be a member of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, but the running back and special teams player still is being recognized for his four-year career at the University of Pittsburgh.

Stephens-Howling’s family received notification on Wednesday that LaRod earned the NCAA 2009 Division I Sportsmanship Award as a conference winner.

“Every team, every business organization and every community could benefit from having a person like LaRod,” Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said on Thursday. “He embodies what it means to be a leader, a student and athlete. The University of Pittsburgh and its football program are blessed to call him one of our own.”

The award promotes “sportsmanship and ethical behavior and the highest ideals of respect, caring, civility, fairness, honesty, integrity and responsibility.”

Former Johnstown coach Bob Arcurio thought those words on the NCAA certificate were appropriate.

“That describes LaRod Stephens-Howling,” Arcurio said. “That’s his personality.”

Stephens-Howling rushed for 4,597 yards at Greater Johnstown before graduating in 2004.

He was a two-time Tribune-Democrat Offensive Player of the Year.

At Pitt, the versatile 5-foot-7, 180-pound back rushed for 1,959 yards and 15 touchdowns and had 453 receiving yards.

His best season was in 2006 when Stephens-Howling ran for 893 yards. When LeSean McCoy took over as the Panthers’ feature back in 2007, Stephens-Howling was the consumate team player, finishing his final two seasons as a productive back and special teams player.

Those qualities, plus his speed and versatility led to Stephens-Howling’s being drafted in the seventh round by the Cardinals in April.

Despite the usual critics who believed Stephens-Howling’s size would hinder him, he made a big impression on the Cardinals’ special teams units and at running back during training camp and eventually earned a roster spot.

“During his bye week, we went to IUP to watch one of his former teammates, Josh Miller, play,” Arcurio said. “He had nothing but class. He greeted everybody. He sat down and talked with his former classmates. You’d never know he was a professional football player. He remembers his roots. He knows where he came from, and he’ll never change. He’s an ideal individual.

“He makes his school proud. He makes his coaches proud. He’s a gentleman and he’s a scholar,” Arcurio added.

“He’s a first-class guy off the field. He makes everybody feel like he’s just a normal individual that made the pros by hard work. You’d never know he’s at a higher level because he doesn’t forget his friends, and he doesn’t forget his school.”