VIDEO: Gamecocks commitment Pup Howard having huge senior season

On3 imageby:Chris Clark09/28/22

One of the top South Carolina Gamecocks football commitments in the 2023 class is Jacksonville product Grayson “Pup” Howard.

The On3 Consensus four-star prospect made his verbal pledge to Shane Beamer’s program back in June, giving South Carolina a talented player at a need position.

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Through five games of his final high school season, Howard is having yet another huge year for Andrew Jackson. He has tallied 93 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

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Below, GamecockCentral.com has midseason highlights showing Gamecocks fans some glimpses of Howard’s production this year.

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Howard also had a huge junior season for his high school team, accounting for 157 tackles (95 solo), 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, six pass deflections, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. 

He chose South Carolina over the summer over offers from Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, and numerous others.

The On3 Consensus – a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies – ranks Howard as the number 212 prospect regardless of position in the country, number 17 linebacker in the nation and number 42 prospect from the state of Florida.

Here is the On3 Scouting Summary for Howard’s game:

Tackle machine at linebacker who has a knack for bringing down ball carriers all over the field. Totaled 157 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks as well as 2 interceptions his junior season. Has continued adding size heading into his senior season. Looks like a college-ready player now, measuring at over 6-foot-3.5 and around 220 pounds. Instinctive player that scans the field as quickly as anyone in the country. A true off-ball linebacker that can sink into zone coverage, play man against the slot or back, stuff the run and get to the quarterback as a free blitzer. May not be a top tier athlete at the position but plays fast due to his instincts. High floor prospect who could produce early on in his career at the next level.

Howard’s high school position coach, Bubba Horne, raves about the future Gamecocks defender.

“The work ethic is just unmatched from anyone that I’ve ever seen,” Horne told GamecockCentral.com earlier in the year. “I tell people all the time when I’m talking to coaches and talk to different people, it’s like, ‘Yeah, he’s a great athlete on the field, he does very well at what he does on the field. But he’s an even better person off the field.’ He’s a 3.8 student taking all Honors classes, planning on graduating early and early enrolling.”

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