South Carolina linebacker Pup Howard sure doesn’t feel like a freshman
The start of South Carolina freshman Grayson Howard’s college career seemed like divine timing.
Howard hails from Jacksonville, Florida, where the Gamecocks ended their 2022 season in the Gator Bowl against Notre Dame. He graduated early from Andrew Jackson High School and was able to participate in South Carolina’s bowl game practices.
His first college football encounter occurred in the same town and on the same high school fields where he earned his “Pup” nickname and cemented his standing as a star preps linebacker. When USC drove to Episcopal School of Jacksonville’s field, Howard felt particularly nostalgic.
“I played at that field in high school,” Howard said. “I played them at my own high school, and then I had one of my first college practices at that field. Just having that is always cool and always will be a great talking point. And I really appreciate the experience I was able to take.”
Having been with the team for nearly eight months now, Howard doesn’t feel like a freshman at all. What would be first-fall-camp jitters are instead calmed nerves and a healthy dose of excitement. The 6-foot-4, 241-pound linebacker is poised to step into an important role for a youthful Gamecocks squad.
Howard tallied 188 tackles, including 18 tackles for loss and five sacks, during his senior season of high school, according to News4Jax.com. He recovered three fumbles, forced another one and had a rushing touchdown.
Defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Clayton White said Howard is expected to play impactful downs this year, though the number of snaps is still to be determined. He lined up with the first-team defense alongside Debo Williams at linebacker during the practices open to the media Friday and Monday.
In getting acclimated to college football, Howard said he’s found a friend in Bam Martin-Scott. The redshirt-senior and Howard share a common goal of becoming the best linebackers they can. They encourage each other during workouts, help each other study the playbook and find time to bond away from football as well.
“Getting close with him has made the process so much easier,” Howard said. “I hope that has helped him as well. We got closer not only as linebackers but as friends each and every day. It’s a brotherhood for sure. And I really appreciate the people I’ve met and the relationships I’ve built.”
The linebacker corps in general has been supportive, he added. The group’s raw talent and players’ complementary skillsets have him excited for the upcoming season.
“As a whole, everybody offers a little different of their playing style,” Howard said, “but we come together as a good linebacker group, as a solid linebacker group.”
