BREAKING: 4-star EDGE Jaxon Howard commits to LSU
2023 Minneapolis (Minn.) Robbinsdale Cooper EDGE Jaxon Howard committed to LSU on Friday. Howard gives the Tigers a key piece in Jamar Cain’s defensive line room.
His relationships with coaches like Cain, Brian Polian and Brian Kelly are strong after years of being recruited. Sitting down with Cain and Matt House to talk scheme stood out on his official visit last month.
“I think it’s great and it does show how much they believe in my playing ability and I’ll be able to step up to the plate,” Jaxon Howard told The Bengal Tiger. “Appreciate all they’ve been able to do for me just far as recruiting to be honest.”
LSU beat out Miami, Michigan, Minnesota and numerous others for the 6-4, 243-pound prospect.
Jaxon Howard is one of the nation’s best athletes
According to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, Howard ranks as the No. 101 overall prospect in the country, No. 15 EDGE in the nation and No. 1 prospect in Minnesota.
As a junior in 2021, Jaxon Howard finished with 13 receptions for 172 yards and three touchdowns on offense. On defense, he recorded 50 tackles, eight of which went for a loss, and six sacks.
Jaxon’s father is Willie Howard, former defensive end at Stanford who won the Morris Award for the Pac-10’s top lineman. He was picked in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft and played two seasons before a career-ending injury.
“Personally, I think the upside as an EDGE and defensive lineman is ridiculous,” Willie Howard said of his son. “It’s so natural for him because he’s been doing it for so long. At tight end, he catches the ball well and runs great routes. He does everything you ask him to do at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds. But what happens if he adds 20-25 more pounds? We try not to add too much weight to him.
“He’s kind of maxed out for tight end right now. He’s still open to losing some weight and playing tight end. But the upside tangibles at EDGE and defensive line are there.”
Jaxon Howard currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $122k. The On3 NIL Valuation is an index that looks to set the standard market value for both high school and college-level athletes. The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.
