‘Ironhead’ Heyward Reportedly Meets With Agent to Discuss Turning Pro

PITTSBURGH — Craig (Ironhead) Heyward, the University of Pittburgh’s All-American junior running back and an expected frontrunner for the 1988 Heisman Trophy, reportedly met with a sports agent Friday night to discuss turning professional, according to published reports.

Heyward, the second-leading runner in Pitt history, flew to Washington to meet with agent Bruce Allen, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported in its Saturday editions.

Heyward refused to confirm the Allen meeting when contacted by the newspaper. “Do not call this number anymore seeking information,” Heyward said.

However, Heyward was booked on a USAir flight that arrived in Washington Friday night. Heyward reportedly has met several times with Eric Metz, a Pittsburgh insurance salesman who represents Allen, the son of former Washington Redskins Coach George Allen.

NCAA rules prohibit a player from having any contact with an agent while he has college eligibility remaining.

The Post-Gazette said Heyward did poorly in his fall semester classes and has not attended classes so far during the winter semester, which began Jan. 6. However, Heyward has remained on campus and was seen at the St. John’s-Pitt basketball game Jan. 9.

If the NCAA were to declare Heyward ineligible, he could be placed in a special NFL supplemental draft, as former Pitt running back Charles Gladman and Ohio State wide receiver Cris Carter were last summer.