It was just several days ago that former LSU QB, Walker Howard, decided that he was going to enter his name into the transfer portal and take his talents elsewhere. Howard’s decision was announced today that he will be joining Ole Miss heading into the 2023 season. He will have the opportunity to compete for the starting quarterback job alongside Jaxson Dart. The Lafayette, Louisiana native decided to redshirt during his freshman season, so that will leave him with four years of eligibility remaining with Ole Miss.
Walker Howard’s Brief Stint at LSU:
Howard was one of the top quarterbacks in the class of 2022 before committing to LSU. He was rated as the nation’s No. 1 dual-threat quarterback by ESPN and listed No. 5 by 247Sports/ With long-time quarterback, Jamie Howard, being his father, it was expected that he would be a Tiger for his entire college career.
The former LSU QB had limited time on the field during his freshman season with the Tigers. Howard only saw action in two games during the season: Southern and Purdue. He would come in for a brief moment in the blowout win against Southern in week two of the season and he went finish out the fourth quarter in the blowout win against Purdue. Outside of that, he didn’t see the field at all as Jayden Daniels took most of the snaps throughout the season. In two games this season, Howard completed 2 of 4 passes for seven yards and rushed six times for 33 yards.
With Daniels deciding to come back for another season in Baton Rouge that closed the door on Howard getting any game action in the 2023 season. The door would open up for competition heading into the 2024 season as Daniels would be gone leaving Garrett Nussmeier and Howard as the frontrunners to compete for the starting quarterback role. Instead, Howard decided to transfer out of LSU leaving the door open for Nussmeier to take the reigns for the 2024 season.
The Quarterback Competition at Ole Miss Heading into the 2023 Season:
The Ole Miss starting quarterback role was clear last season as former USC transfer, Jaxson Dart, took the reigns after Matt Corral left for the NFL Draft. In his first season with the Rebels, Dart would finish the season with 2,974 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. Dart not only has the ability to sling it deep, but he also been lethal for Ole Miss in the running game. He had just two games over 300 passing yards during the season. Dart would have a problem turning the ball over, especially at the end of the season where he would have four interceptions over the last three games in the regular season.
Lane Kiffin was able to fill a viable piece in the quarterback depth chart after Luke Altmyer and Kinkead Dent. Howard will be able to fill that void and provide some much-needed depth to Ole Miss. Howard will be set up if he does win the starting job, because Ole Miss has one of the best running games in the country. The former LSU QB will have an opportunity to take the starting quarterback reigns as early as this year, but there is a clear path if Dart decides to declare for the NFL Draft after this upcoming season.
With Dart being a junior heading into the 2023 season if he performs at a high level, there will be a high possibility that he takes his talents to the next level. That would open the door for Howard to take the starting quarterback job with ease in the 2024 season. Either way, the former LSU QB will be set up with working with one of the best running games in the country, led by Quinshon Judkins.
Judkins will be back for another season leading the way for the running back group. Judkins had a breakout year during his freshman season as he would finish the year with with 1,567 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.
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