2026 athlete Gavin Howard eyeing another deep postseason run
Holmes County Central High School came oh-so-close to playing for the Class 5A North State championship a year ago. Helping lead that charge was 2026 athlete and On3 three-star prospect Gavin Howard, who was aa jack-of-all-trades on offense.
Howard totaled over 1,000 all-purpose yards as a junior and expects once again to line up at various offensive skill positions. Howard is rated as the nation’s N. 48 athlete an the state’s No. 26 prospect by On3 composite rankings.
“We are done now but we’ve been doing spring workouts,” Howard explained. “We started in pads on April 14th and we just had our spring game not long ago. I will be playing a little bit of everything this year. I’ll be at quarterback, running back, receiver and safety, too.”
On the recruiting trail, Howard has collected Power 4 offers form Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Auburn, Kentucky and Georgia Tech. His trips to college campuses have been limited so far this year but he plans to see a few more schools in the coming weeks.
“I haven’t taken a whole lot of visits yet,” remarked the 5-foot-10 and 180-pound Howard. “I have been to Mississippi State, Jackson State and I plan to go to Auburn, Arkansas, Kentucky and Florida State. I’ve also been on a recent visit to Louisiana.”
Later this summer, Howard has also begun to look at possible official visits. That could include a few more visits to SEC campuses, as well.
“I don’t have any official visits set yet,” Howard added. “I want to start looking at that soon, though. I would like to take official visits to Auburn and Mississippi State. When I go visit Arkansas soon, I hope to set up an official visit with them then, too.”
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Regarding Mississippi State, Howard continues to hold a good relationship with Bulldog receivers coach Chad Bumphis. Howard has made several trips to Starkville over the past year and that includes a return visit last month.
“It was good being back at Mississippi State,” recalled Howard. “I haven’t heard as much from the coaches lately because they’re in spring ball. But we are still building those good relationships. Coach Bump still talks to me from time to time and lets me know he still wants me to come play for him.”
Howard has yet to name any favorites in his recruiting process but does have a decision timeframe in mind. And once he sees which school wants him the most, that will play a major factor in his college decision.
“I will probably make my decision sometime in the summer,” noted Howard. “It could be around June or July. But I don’t have any main favorites right now. I want to study the depth charts to see my possibility to play as a freshman. I want a program that can develop me into a good player and person, and see who is recruiting me the hardest.”
