Recruiting: 2023 Minnesota EDGE Jaxon Howard commits to LSU

LSU added their seventh pledge for the 2023 signing class when edge Jaxon Howard from Robbinsdale Cooper in Minneapolis decided on the Tigers over other finalists Michigan, Miami and hometown Minnesota.

Juiced up for the boot!! Let’s gooooo!! @CoachBrianKelly @coachjcain @iRecruitDaBoot @CoachMHouse @_destinywilsonn pic.twitter.com/zaQ6yZRmQy

— Jaxon Howard (@11JaxonHoward) June 19, 2022

“I think that LSU is the perfect place for me,” said Howard in his announcement press conference.

Defensive line coach Jamar Cain along with Brian Polian handled the recruiting duties for the Purple and Gold. Howard made an unofficial visit to LSU’s campus to April 23 and an official stopover June 21.

Howard is the top ranked player in the state of Minnesota and the 112th overall player in the country.

The 6-foot-4, 245 pounder is capable of lining up at either tight end or defensive end but his future appears to be in an edge rusher role. Howard flies to the football and has a knack for being in the right spot. He wears jersey No. 11 which is currently occupied on the LSU roster by senior defensive end Ali Gaye, so that jersey could be available for him (as well as the role in the Tigers’ defense) in 2023.

Howard also plays baseball and track and field, throwing the shot put and discus. He runs a 4.88 and squats 435 pounds.

Nicknamed “Mini Me,” he plays currently for his father Willie Howard, the head football coach at Robbinsdale Cooper, who won the Morris Trophy presented to the top defensive lineman in the PAC-12 as a defensive tackle at Stanford. The elder Howard was later selected in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.