In the spring transfer window, P.J. Fleck recruited linebacker Jaxon Howard, a former four-star recruit.
Howard announced that, after just one year as a redshirt freshman at LSU, he is returning home to Minnesota.
With Howard ranked as the top prospect in the state’s 2023 class, P.J. Fleck and the Gophers have become more adept at keeping Minnesota’s top football prospects at home for their collegiate careers.
BREAKING: LSU transfer EDGE Jaxon Howard (@11JaxonHoward) has committed to the #Gophers.
A former top-150 high school prospect, he will be one of the most highly-touted players to wear the Maroon & Gold. https://t.co/dF10SyRkPj pic.twitter.com/PWm6ZvrqRJ
— Tony Liebert (@TonyLiebert) April 19, 2024
Koi Perich and Emmanuel Karmo, who rank first in the Minnesota recruiting class for 2024 and 2025, respectively, have committed to the Gophers. Trey Bixby, who is first for 2022 but revealed this week that he is going to the transfer portal, was also recruited by the team.
The 6’4″ edge rusher Howard is the son of retired defensive lineman Willie Howard of the Vikings.
He made five appearances for LSU in the previous campaign, mostly as a member of the Tigers’ special teams.
Howard received offers from the University of California, the University of Washington, Kansas University, and Michigan State, Purdue, and Indiana, three Big Ten rivals of Minnesota, in addition to the Gophers.