Walker Howard excited for Billy Napier hire at Florida

While it’s not official yet, recruits across the country are already taking notice of the news that Billy Napier will become the new head coach of the Florida Gators. One very interested observer is On3 Consensus four-star quarterback Walker Howard of Lafayette (La.) St. Thomas More.

“I’m very excited for him, and I think he’s going to build a great program,” Howard told On3’s Chad Simmons Sunday afternoon. “Florida is already a great program, but he will do something special.”

Walker Howard is a longtime LSU commitment. But the coaching search in Baton Rouge has opened the door for other programs to heavily pursue him – namely Ole Miss and Notre Dame.

It sounds like it’s safe to say that Florida is about to enter the mix, too.

While at Louisiana, Napier heavily recruited Howard. But with bigger schools on his list and a strong family bond with LSU, the Ragin’ Cajuns weren’t ever under serious consideration.

But Napier never relented in his pursuit and has stayed in contact with Walker Howard throughout the recruiting process.

“I have a great relationship with Coach Napier,” Howard told Simmons. “He was my first offer and have always stayed in touch.”

Walker Howard is the No. 35 overall recruit in the country, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Walker Howard still committed to LSU

Walker Howard says he’s still committed to LSU. He’s an in-state recruit. He’s a coveted prospect at a priority position. He has family ties to the school. Plus, he’s been committed for more than a year.

But the uncertainty around who will be the next head coach has opened the door for Ole Miss, Notre Dame and others to push for a flip.

Notre Dame had been working to get Howard on campus for weeks and got him on campus the weekend after the Ed Oregron news was announced. Ole Miss also began pursuing Howard after the Oregon news was announced. Rebels’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jeff Lebby was even at Howard’s game on Friday.

Howard was at LSU on Saturday to watch the Tigers beat Texas A&M. There are deep family roots with LSU. His father, Jamie, played quarterback for the LSU Tigers in the 90′s. His mother also went to LSU. But there are still lingering questions about who will be in charge at LSU. 

“Not knowing who is going to be the next head coach is scary,” his father, Jamie Howard, told the Lafayette Advertiser. “Even though he has the love for LSU and wants to be at LSU, it’s hard for a quarterback because so many things come into play with the type of offense that can potentially come with a new coach.”