21 offensive recruits to know for '21: RB Elijah Howard

Elijah Howard is a name you likely already know in the 2021 class, but he should not be forgotten just because he is a commit. Howard is coming off of a Junior season at Baylor, in which he was named as a Mr. Football Finalist. He burst onto the scene as one of the most versatile athletes in the country.

Howard was a one-man wrecking crew for a large part of the season and showed his ability to carry the workload for the Red Raiders throughout his Junior Campaign. Howard rushed for nearly 1500 yards and had 20 touchdowns. He also impacted the game as a receiver, returner, and on defense.

Tennessee was looking at Howard as a defensive back, and his elite speed could make him a valuable asset to Jeremy Pruitt and Derrick Ansley, but the last VR2 was informed, he will likely get the nod at running back to start out.

Howard's currently ranked as the 908th overall prospect in the nation for 2021, according to the 247 Sports Composite Ranking, but you can expect that to change when the rankings update. His versatility on both sides of the ball has garnered him national attention as he dominated Tennessee's toughest classification. Other teams have attempted to make pushes at Howard, however, Tennessee appears to have a stronghold foothold in this recruitment. He is not one that the Vols will let go easily. He is slated to be back on campus this weekend.

Analysis- I was able to watch Howard twice this season against McCallie and Knoxville Catholic. Against McCallie, he kept the Red Raiders alive with big gainers and jaw-dropping runs. However, against Knoxville Catholic, it was completely different. Howard escaped a couple of times, and when he hits the second level, it usually spells trouble. However, in this game, he shouldered the workload between the tackles and displayed his patience and ability to grind out yards. Howard's versatility is going to make him a coveted prospect, as he is a four-down player, on both sides of the ball. His speed, field vision, and grit are going to make him a valuable asset offensively, and that is likely where he will end up in Knoxville. Jim Chaney should have a lot of fun drawing up different designs to get Howard in the open field.

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