LSU EDGE Jaxon Howard plans to enter NCAA transfer portal
LSU defensive end Jaxon Howard has informed LSU he plans to enter the transfer portal, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. Howard is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota and was a four-star prospect in the 2023 class.
As the No. 1 player in the state of Minnesota, he was one of the nation’s top edge rushers after recording 103 tackles as a senior at Robbinsdale Cooper High School.
At 6-foot-4, Howard showed flashes in his freshman season at LSU, playing in five games and maintaining his redshirt season and recording two tackles with a quarterback hurry in the ReliaQuest Bowl win over Wisconsin. Howard was a reserve player in the JACK linebacker spot this past season and again projected to be a backup in 2024.
Howard had stout competition off the edge this year, with Bradyn Swinson and Dashawn Womack, but throughout the spring he had shown the talent level necessary to be in the rotation. With his departure, the Tigers’ defensive line depth takes another hit entering the summer months before the 2024 season.
Bo Davis was hired by Brian Kelly earlier this year to help repair LSU’s defensive line room and throughout spring it has been a major talking point, so we’ll see how Davis continues to reload and develop the talent on hand.
As a prospect coming to LSU
Howard was the No. 120 player in the 2023 class and the No. 16 EDGE rusher with a rating of 93.63 on the On3 Industry Composite. Here is On3’s breakdown of his ability before arriving at LSU.
“Mismatch as a pass catcher and sack collector whose athleticism and size makes him unstoppable in the state of Minnesota. Two-way star for Robbinsdale Cooper at tight end and defensive end helping lead them to a state semi-final appearance during his junior season. At tight end he flashes his fluidity and loose hips in his route running. Can see that bend further emphasized when turning the corner off the edge as a pass rusher. Has serious shock in his hands. Holds the point with ease and makes plays in the backfield consistently. Finished second in the state his junior year in shot put and discus throwing over 56 feet in the shot put and over 177 feet in the discus. Can keep his eyes glued in the backfield too long and it keeps him out of position more often than not. Will continue to play faster as he experiences more game reps solely along the defensive front. Physically he is ready to step in and make an impact right away at the next level. His best football is in front of him. Father is Willie Howard who played along the defense line for Stanford in the late 90’s and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round in 2001.
