A linebacker from Bartlett has made the decision to commit to Vanderbilt, confirming his choice to The Commercial Appeal on Saturday evening.
This player had first committed to Vanderbilt from April 5 until June 23 but later switched his commitment to Mississippi State before retracting it on October 22. Following this change, he turned his attention back to Vanderbilt and Tennessee after visiting Knoxville on October 18. Ultimately, he opted for Vanderbilt, visiting the campus three times during the 2024 season, with his latest visit on October 26 for a game against Texas.
He expressed to The Commercial Appeal that “the love they showed” was a key factor in his decision, emphasizing that it surpasses everything else. Despite his previous decommitment, he reassured the paper in October that Vanderbilt had remained a strong contender for him. “I never stopped having a great relationship with everyone in that building,” he remarked. “They focus on the little things that matter, even during my first decommitment. The players treat me like one of their own, and I see my place in that program.”
In rankings of the top Memphis area players for the class of 2025, he was listed as No. 4 in the Commercial Appeal’s Dandy Dozen. Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 226 pounds, he ranks No. 23 in the state according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings.
The high school football career of Austin Howard concluded on Friday with a second-round TSSAA playoff loss to Houston. He wrapped up the regular season with impressive statistics: 42 tackles, nine of which were for a loss, and three sacks.
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