Many of the national conversations surrounding this year’s LSU team have focused on the quarterback competition, and for good reason.
It’s one of the most intriguing battles in the entire country, pitting a veteran coming off an injury in [autotag]Myles Brennan[/autotag] against a transfer with several years of Power Five experience in [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]. Redshirt freshman [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], who saw some action down the stretch last season, also had an impressive spring and figures to be a factor.
But the player seemingly left out of that conversation is the one that could have the highest ceiling of the bunch and likely represents the future at the position: true freshman [autotag]Walker Howard[/autotag].
The former blue-chip prospect from Lafayette committed under the previous coaching staff, and it was a major early win for coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] to keep him in the transition class. Howard may be heading for a redshirt year, but he will likely be the starter in Baton Rouge sooner rather than later.
In the meantime, Howard said that he’s taking the opportunity to learn from the veterans in the quarterback room, according to On3’s Nikki Chavanelle.
“Every single day, every single rep, I learn something new,” Howard said. “That’s what’s awesome about having some older guys in front of you. You look at everything with a different perspective because I came in with not as much knowledge as these guys. I have to work harder than everybody else because they’ve been around, so that’s what I’m doing.”
Howard got to be a part of the action this spring after early enrolling, and he had positive things to say about the transition process overall.
“The transition has been awesome, I mean, at first, it was kind of rough at first,” Howard said. “I kind of hit a wall the first couple of practices but that’s what all the coaches told me, that I was going to hit a wall, it’s just all about how you bounce back. I feel like I’ve been really improving after every practice, that’s what it’s all about. The transition’s been awesome, I’ve loved every second of it.”
He also said that Kelly’s hands-on approach has made that transition easier.
“He’s very involved,” Howard said. “It makes me fired up to have a head coach so involved with me and the quarterbacks. He corrects me after every single thing I do. He’s just always trying to [help] me improve. I’m thankful for Coach Kelly always teaching me after every rep.”
Howard arrives with high expectations, though he likely won’t get the chance to live up to them this season barring significant injury. Still, it should be seen as a positive sign that Howard is taking the opportunity to learn from one of the most experienced quarterback rooms in college football.
[mm-video type=video id=01g26ap7n0jhrayh42wb playlist_id=01eqbz5s7cf4w69e0n player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g26ap7n0jhrayh42wb/01g26ap7n0jhrayh42wb-52bd6fabe56060dbf9fbc2912bc171c5.jpg]
[listicle id=52296]
Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno