Breaking down Walker Howard’s commitment to Ole Miss football

Ole Miss football has struck again in the transfer portal landing a former highly-ranked quarterback in Walker Howard, who committed on Wednesday. 

Earlier this week, former LSU quarterback and highly-touted 2022 recruit Walker Howard started trending to Ole Miss football with expert projections following his recent visit.

Well, it appears as though the experts were right as Howard announced his commitment to Ole Miss football on Wednesday morning, giving the Rebels another talented arm and one that has four years of eligibility left.

TCU was another school that showed interest. Walker Howard visited the Horned Frogs as well as Ole Miss football but the chance to play for Lane Kiffin and stay in the SEC was enough to convince Howard to join the Rebels.

Here’s what it means for Ole Miss football in 2023 and beyond.

Walker Howard to Ole Miss football: instant analysis

Howard was ranked as the No. 40 prospect overall in the 2022 recruiting class according to the 247 sports composite rankings, as well as fifth among quarterbacks. Brian Kelly did his famous dance with Walker on a visit and it led to a commitment.

Howard was supposed to be the quarterback of the future for LSU, yet it didn’t work out that way. Jayden Daniels had a stellar season and is returning to start in 2023. Howard seemed as low as No. 3 on the depth chart so he entered the transfer portal last week.

We said right away that Ole Miss football was going to be a contender. The Rebels have Jaxson Dart but it seems as though they want some competition for him. Dart was solid last season but Ole Miss crashed and burned down the stretch. There were reports of Spencer Sanders being linked to the Rebels but now, Howard will fill that void.

Howard may not have the experience of Sanders, but the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder has a stellar arm and big-time talent. He was ranked where he was ranked for a reason. Sanders would have been a one-year rental too.

In Howard, Ole Miss football gets a guy with four years of eligibility and one that can compete with Dart for the starting job right away. It also lessens the sting of Marcel Reed flipping his commitment late in the 2023 cycle from Ole Miss to Texas A&M.

The Rebels didn’t land a quarterback in the 2023 class but it doesn’t matter quite as much now, because Howard should shine under Lane Kiffin and you can bet, Howard can’t wait for a chance to show out against his old team.