LSU lands commitment from four-star legacy QB Walker Howard

Usually, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Such is the case with The Howards and LSU.

Walker Howard, the top-ranked quarterback in Louisiana's 2022 class, committed to LSU on Friday. Alabama, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, TCU, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Baylor, Penn State and Arizona State were among Howard's other offers.

Howard is entering his first season as the starting signal-caller for St. Thomas More this fall. His decision to commit to the Tigers comes about one year removed from camping in Baton Rouge under the watchful eyes of Ed Orgeron and offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger and earning an offer -- before a single start at the varsity level for the Lafayette-area powerhouse.

Howard is an LSU legacy. His father, Jamie Howard, quarterbacked the Tigers from 1992-95 and finished as the third-leading passer in program history and second in program history with 34 touchdown passes.

The younger Howard is the fifth member of LSU's 2022 recruiting class, which already has a stranglehold on the No. 1 recruiting class in the country. He is the third four-star prospect in the group and the second in-state prospect to commit along with three-star wide receiver Decoldest Crawford out of Shreveport (La.) Green Oaks.

"I was looking forward to it (spring football, travel, recruiting visits), but things change. I was talking to my dad about it and I've been talking to Coach O the past two, 2.5 weeks. Every day, he kept telling me I was his No. 1 guy. They wanted me and I'm their No. 1 guy for the 2022 class, and if I committed, I could start building a team. That's what I want -- to win a national championship -- and I'm gonna build myself a dream team (at LSU)."

"It finally clicked ... Why not commit? This is where my family is. My mom loved LSU and this is where she wanted me to be. I'm excited and I'm ready to play ball. I know I'm ready for this. I was born for this. My mom was the best and taught me everything I know. She was the best and she wanted me to be a Tiger and taught me how to keep my head stable and keep going and keep fighting. We've had a lot happen in life, but we keep moving forward."

"I love my family. I'm a big family guy. Losing my mom brought us all together. I didn't want to separate us. We're all close to each other and it makes everything really nice. I'm just ready to play some football, go into Death Valley. It's a different feeling when you walk into that place compared to any other place."

"I've met so many great guys on the recruiting trail. I know I'm cutting it (short), but me knowing these guys, building relationships and seeing what they want to do ... We've started talking and we have the same mindsets. We want to win. We're gonna get a great group of guys and win a national championship (at LSU). That's what I'm trying to find and that's what I want to do."

"A lot of coaches told me I was No. 1 (on their quarterback boards), but it felt different for me. I'm a Louisiana kid and I grew up going to LSU games with my dad and my family. We love the environment and I grew up dreaming about being a Tiger, so seeing it become a reality is awesome. I'm excited."

"Coach O, let me tell you, there's no one like Coach O. I know some great football coaches, but there's not a better person or coach than Coach O. He's the best and he's the kind of coach I want to play for and that I will play for. Coach (Steve) Ensminger is one of those guys that'll get on your (butt) and motivate you to make you better. I also want to credit Coach (Russ) Callaway. He did a great job recruiting me and getting to know me and all he's doing. I talked with him two or three times a week. He's my guy and I enjoy talking to him, helping me break down recruiting for me."

The crazy part here is that Howard has yet to start a varsity game for St. Thomas More (La.) High School, but the talented 2022 signal-caller will finally do so this fall after sitting behind Louisiana Tech signee Caleb Holstein the past two years, which included runner-ups finish as the Division II state champions in 2018 and a state title game victory last fall.

Despite a lack of game experience, Howard has been a known commodity in The Boot for some time. He’s the son of former LSU quarterback Jamie Howard and has camped in Baton Rouge, Rivals Camp Series in New Orleans and at the All-American Bowl Combine in San Antonio at the start of the year.

Walker's father, Jamie, quarterbacked the Tigers from 1992 to 1995 with 32 total starts, including six as a freshman. Howard finished as the third-leading passer in program history with 6,158 yards. He also finished second in program history with 34 touchdown passes and engineered several notable comeback efforts beginning as a freshman in 1992.

Howard, who measures up at 6-foot-1 and 185-pounds, was easily the top-performing quarterback in San Antonio last January. He has exceptional accuracy with a strong arm that consistently hits his targets in stride. Howard is a true field general capable of creating plays with his arm or with his legs if plays break down. He balances touch throws with laser passes and has the ability to rifle throws in, if need be, and has the ability to use the entire field. He's a true rhythm passer that needs to get into a comfort zone throwing the football, and when he hits his stride he's impressive to watch sling it all over the field.

Howard has been so efficient in an array of different settings, making his varsity debut this fall all-the-more intriguing. Howard will have a chance to climb the rankings within the state and national rankings once he produces his first full varsity tape.

Howard is an accurate passer who spins a good ball and can hit receivers in stride consistently. He's very accurate with excellent arm strength with a high football IQ -- much like former Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow, who of course led LSU to a national championship last season and was selected first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Howard throws great balls on the run and also in the pocket. He also has good, quick feet to navigate from within. He has excellent athleticism and is a threat to take off and run, as well as extend plays in and outside the pocket. His accuracy remains intact even when on the move. He's able to remain very calm and poised with a smooth delivery and can effectively pick apart defenses in the short and intermediate passing game.

Howard's 2020 varsity debut should showcase even more about his game as he gets acclimated into one of Louisiana's most high-powered passing attacks at St. Thomas More.