On3 4-star LB Austin Howard commits to Vanderbilt

Memphis (Tenn.) Bartlett four-star linebacker Austin Howard has committed to Vanderbilt, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Howard was previously committed to Vanderbilt from April through June. He flipped his commitment to Mississippi State before decommitting from the Bulldogs in October. Now, he’s back with the Commodores.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Howard had visited Vanderbilt for two games already this fall before returning to Nashville in October as Vandy hosted top-10 Texas.

Eleven prospects are now committed to Vanderbilt’s 2025 recruiting class with the addition of Howard. He is the No. 2 recruit in the class behind Chattanooga (Tenn.) McCallie School four-star safety Carson Lawrence.

Thirty percent of the class hails from the Volunteer State. In addition to Howard and Lawrence, the class includes Ooltewah Paducah Tilghman cornerback Vanzale Hinton.

Howard is the nation’s No. 541 overall prospect in the 2025 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. On3 is especially high on Howard, being the only major service to rank him as a four-star prospect.