Vanderbilt defensive back John Howse IV enters NCAA transfer portal

Vanderbilt defensive back John Howse IV has entered the transfer portal, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. He spent three total seasons with the Commodores, playing in 11 games last fall.

In those 11 appearances, Howse came up with 15 tackles and one interception, career bests after playing sparsely in 2022, just eight games, and only appearing in two games as a freshman who technically redshirted in 2021.

Howse’s profile on the Vanderbilt Athletics website notes him as a “self-proclaimed sneakerhead” who is majoring in medicine, health and society. Howse’s page also touts his terrific high school career at Brentwood, just slightly south of Nashville, where Vandy is located.

Perhaps he could be someone who likes to stick close to home, and there are plenty of homes in Tennessee for former SEC players like himself.

As a recruit back at Brentwood, John Howse IV was rated a three-star recruit by the On3 Industry Rankings. He was also rated the No. 717 overall prospect for his cycle, as well as the No. 64 cornerback and No. 16 player out of Tennessee for 2021.

Other Vandy transfer news

The ‘Dores also recently lost a linebacker to the transfer portal in Dante Kelly, who will now look elsewhere to play this upcoming season. Kelly did not see game action for Vanderbilt last season, and now, he’ll will look explore his options.

As a member of the Class of 2023, Kelly was a three-star recruit out of Itta Bena (Miss.) Leflore County, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 22 overall prospect in the state, the No. 95 linebacker in the class and the No. 993 overall prospect in the class.

Vandy did get a bump of good news on the basketball court, though, as former Virginia Tech guard MJ Collins has found a new home in Nashville. The 6-foot-4 sophomore transfer has committed to Vanderbilt and new head coach Mark Byington, he told On3’s Joe Tipton.

The Clover, SC native averaged 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game this season for the Hokies. Collins is a former three-star recruit and was the No. 188 overall player in the nation from the 2022 cycle, according to On3 Industry Rankings.

Collins provides some high-major pedigree and another guard option for Byington, who is beginning to build out a decent little roster of transfers in his first offseason.