LSU Football: Tigers Lose Prized Freshman DL To NCAA Transfer Portal

The Bayou Bengals lose former four-star EDGE Jaxon Howard to the portal departs Baton Rouge after one season.

LSU redshirt freshman edge rusher Jaxon Howard has informed the LSU coaching staff that he will be entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, a source confirmed to LSU Country on Wednesday.

247Sports' Matt Zenitz first reported the news.

Howard, a former four-star recruit and the No. 1 prospect in Minnesota for the 2023 cycle, will depart Baton Rouge after one season with the program.

The coveted recruit played in five games as a freshman and showed flashes in LSU's spring game last year with four tackles and a sack. During his lone season down South, he tallied two tackles and one quarterback hurry in 2023.

It comes as a bit of a surprise after Howard served as the backup EDGE behind Bradyn Swinson and Sai'vion Jones. A player who had an opportunity to take significant snaps this fall, he'll opt to go elsewhere.

Now, Howard departs Death Valley with the chance to boost his stock once again as he searches for a new home. The NCAA Transfer Portal officially opens for business on April 16.

Head coach Brian Kelly detailed the plan surrounding the defensive line room last week with versatility showing during spring camp:

“We can move (defensive ends) Bradyn Swinson inside and Paris Shand inside, then Da’Shawn Womack on the edge and (linebacker) Harold Perkins on the edge. You have a different configuration. I think we can be really dynamic with some of the defensive linemen and moving the pieces around. On first and second down, we really have to work hard at getting after the quarterback. But in terms of stopping the run, Jacobian Guillory has been outstanding. In terms of what Bo Davis is looking for, he’s been outstanding and been a stalwart. We have to find that other guy. That’s what we are looking for. We are trying to develop that second guy and have some depth pieces behind them.”