When former West Virginia wide receivers coach Lonnie Galloway was hired as the co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach at Louisville in March, it did not make headlines in northern Jefferson County, but it meant a lot to the recruitment of Gardendale wideout Kevin Howard.

Galloway formerly recruited Howard to Morgantown and didn’t slow his pursuit once he joined head coach Bobby Petrino’s staff at Louisville. Galloway and the Cardinals officially offered Howard a scholarship over the weekend.

“I wasn’t really thinking about the offers. I knew if I kept working hard they would eventually come, I wasn’t trying to rush it,” said Howard.

That is Howard’s only offer to this point, but he has the attention of several additional programs. South Alabama, UAB, Southern Mississippi, Georgia Southern, Tulane, Mississippi State, Troy, Illinois and Tennessee have also shown interest in the 6-foot-2 target.

He camped at Mississippi State in April and said the Bulldogs liked him at tight end.

Following his sophomore season at Pinson Valley, Howard transferred to Gardendale where he ran into complications. Off-the-field issues with his transfer request kept him on the sideline for much of his junior season. He was not cleared to play until Week 8.

“I just wanted to get out there and play so bad,” he said of his long layoff.

Howard, now the No. 10 receiver in Alabama, according to scout.com, went on to finish his short-lived junior campaign with 16 receptions for 267 yards and three scores. He was looking to make a verbal once he secured his first scholarship offer, but now wants to wait it out.

“After my senior year, I think I can get (a few) more offers,” said Howard.

He started his final prep season on a positive note, pulling down a touchdown catch in the Rockets’ spring scrimmage in Driver Stadium.

“I really just want to go out there with my team and win a state championship,” said Howard. “I want to prove that Gardendale can win a state championship, that’s what I really want to prove.”

He plans on attending Louisville’s camp in July before rounding out his summer with a camp at Troy. When asked if he was shopping for a particular offer, he named off Tennessee, Troy, Middle Tennessee State and Tulane.

Erik Harris is the Sports Editor of The North Jefferson News. Email him at njnsports@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jeharris2.