SEC Football: 3 possible destinations for LSU QB Walker Howard

Florida

Another rather obvious landing spot for Howard out of the portal this offseason within the SEC is with head coach Billy Napier and the Florida Gators. A report from Adam Rittenberg and Tom VanHaaren of ESPN on Jan. 11 indicates that Florida could be one of the favorites to land a commitment from Howard out of the portal in the 2023 class.

There are some past connections that Howard and the Gators could rejuvenate from the coaches currently on Florida’s staff. Second-year offensive coordinator Rob Sale is someone that was part of the recruitment of Howard out of high school when he was on staff with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns in 2019 and 2020.

Sale and the Gators are still seeking quarterback help by way of the transfer portal this offseason after losing their 2022 starter at the position, redshirt sophomore dual-threat Anthony Richardson. While Florida already nabbed former Wisconsin Badgers grad transfer quarterback Graham Mertz out of the portal this offseason, they’re clearly still looking for another guy in this room.

If Howard does like the opportunity to take his talents to Gainesville, this would be one of the most prominent Power Five programs where he could immediately compete for starting reps. He wouldn’t have to come into Gainesville knowing that he would have to sit for a year almost no matter what (barring injury) like he would have to at a place like Mississippi State.

There’s a lot that makes sense in this hypothetical connection between Sale and the Gators and Howard out of the portal this offseason.