Freshman quarterback Walker Howard talks transition from high school to LSU

LSU freshman quarterback Walker Howard has adjusted smoothly to his move from Lafayette to Baton Rouge over the last few months. The early enrollee got his feet wet with spring football and though it’s unlikely he’ll get much run in 2022, he’s happy with how the transition has gone so far.

“The transition’s been awesome, I mean, at first, it was kind of rough at first,” Howard said. “I kind of hit a wall the first couple of practices but that’s what all the coaches told me, that I was going to hit a wall, it’s just all about how you bounce back. I feel like I’ve been really improving after every practice, that’s what it’s all about. The transition’s been awesome, I’ve loved every second of it.”

Howard is a new face in a crowded LSU quarterback room headlined by Myles Brennan and Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels.

Walker had plenty of hype out of high school. He arrived in Baton Rouge as a four-star recruit and the No. 46 player in the country this year, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Howard talks relationship with Brian Kelly

Just after he took the LSU job, Brian Kelly went viral for his dance with then-quarterback recruit Walker Howard. Through spring ball this year, it turns out the two developed quite a connection on the field, as well.

Howard addressed his relationship with Kelly, who’s gearing up for his first year with the Tigers after leaving Notre Dame. The freshman quarterback said Kelly has put an emphasis on the details and is finding plenty of ways to improve his game.

“He’s very involved,” Howard said. “It makes me fired up to have a head coach so involved with me and the quarterbacks. He corrects me after every single thing I do. He’s just always trying to [help] me improve. I’m thankful for Coach Kelly always teaching me after every rep.”

“I would not have done that at Notre Dame,” Kelly told Jacques Doucet of the dancing. “It’s just a different place, a different time. I’ve always kind of looked at my situation and said I think as a leader, you’ve got to always shift and change and look to improve and sometimes, reinvent yourself. I don’t know if I’ve reinvented myself in all those areas.

“But when a young man looks at you and says, ‘Coach, let’s have some fun with this,’ why not? I think sometimes, we get a little too caught up in what other people think instead of the people that are asking you to do some things. I had some fun with it, and I’m glad I did.”

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.