The top football player in Minnesota’s class of 2022, Jaxon Howard, is returning home. Earlier this week, the former Robbinsdale Cooper star edge rusher entered the NCAA transfer portal after spending one season at LSU. It was announced on Friday that Howard will play for P.J. Fleck and the Gophers.
In July 2022, Howard chose LSU over Miami, Michigan, and the Gophers in front of family and friends at Cooper High School. During his time at LSU, he appeared in five games, making two tackles and one quarterback hit. His former high school teammate, Emmanual Karmo, committed to the Gophers in the 2025 class.
Howard joins a defensive line already featuring Danny Striggow, Jalen Logan-Redding, Jah Joyner, Anthony Smith, and Deven Eastern. He was a consensus four-star recruit and a top-150 player in the country when he went to LSU.
The Gophers have about a week left of spring practice before heading into fall camp.