After spending time as a backup at LSU in 2022 and Ole Miss in 2023 and 2024, Walker Howard finally got his chance to be a college starting quarterback for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in 2025.
Unfortunately, he suffered an oblique injury in the season opener against Rice on August 30, and missed nearly 2 months of action. He appeared in 6 games for the Ragin' Cajuns, and decided to enter the transfer portal for a 3rd time when the season concluded.
Lane Kiffin makes another portal splash by signing former 5-star QB Husan Longstreet
Howard has now announced where he will be playing in 2026, and the move takes him back to familiar territory. In a surprising decision, Howard will be returning to Ole Miss just one year after leaving the Rebels.
BREAKING: Louisiana transfer QB Walker Howard has signed with Ole Miss, @PeteNakos reports🦈https://t.co/nsiuGLJCfz pic.twitter.com/IrCaFcCGnW
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) January 14, 2026
Former LSU QB Walker Howard is going back to Ole Miss
Before suffering his oblique injury on August 30, Howard completed 10 of his 22 pass attempts for 88 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. In total, Howard went 18-for-41 for 155 yards with 3 interceptions. He didn't throw a touchdown pass during his time in Lafayette, but he did add 82 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
Howard is a former 5-star prospect of the 2022 recruiting cycle. Hailing from Lafayette's St. Thomas More High School, he was ranked as the No. 6 QB in the 2022 recruiting class, and ultimately chose to stay in-state and attend LSU. Backing up Jayden Daniels, Howard appeared in 2 games for the Tigers in 2022, which included completing 2 passes for 7 yards in LSU's 63-7 win over Purdue in the Citrus Bowl. Howard then backed up Jaxson Dart at Ole Miss, appearing in 4 games over 2 seasons with the Rebels from 2023-24.
His injury-riddled 2025 season was a tough blow for Howard, who was finally named a starter after 3 seasons of backing up First Round draft picks at 2 different schools. Trinidad Chambliss' waiver for a 6th year of eligibility was denied by the NCAA, but playing time way be hard to come by once again in Oxford.
At this time, Howard figures to be a depth backup and veteran locker room presence for Pete Golding, as Auburn transfer Deuce Knight and redshirt freshman AJ Maddox are also on the 2026 roster for Ole Miss. This will be Howard's final year of eligibility.