LSU redshirt freshman edge rusher Jackson Howard has informed LSU's coaching staff that he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, sources confirmed to LSU Country on Wednesday.
247Sports' Matt Zenitz first reported the news.
Howard, a former four-star recruit and Minnesota's No. 1 prospect for the 2023 cycle, will be leaving Baton Rouge after one season with the program.
The highly coveted recruit appeared in five games as a freshman and shined in LSU's spring game last year with four tackles and one sack. During his only season in the South, he recorded two tackles and one quarterback rush in 2023.
This was a bit of a surprise since Howard was the backup EDGE behind Bradyn Swinson and Saivion Jones. Players who had a chance to take significant snaps this fall will likely choose to go elsewhere.
Now, Howard leaves Death Valley in search of a new home and another chance to raise his stock. The NCAA Transfer Portal will officially open on April 16th.
Head coach Brian Kelly last week detailed his plans for a defensive line room that showed versatility during spring training.
“You can move (defensive end) Bradyn Swinson to the inside, you can move Paris Shand to the inside, you can move Dashaun Womack to the edge, you can move (linebacker) Harold Perkins to the edge. It's a different configuration. I think some defensive linemen can run the team and be really dynamic. On first down and second down, they have to work really hard to get after the quarterback. But in terms of stopping that run. So, Jacobean Guillory was outstanding. In terms of what we want from Bo Davis, he was outstanding and a force. We've got to find another guy. That's what we're looking for. We're trying to develop a second player and have some depth behind them.”
