Austin Howard brings early-deployment value as a freshman linebacker for Vanderbilt
In his freshman 2025 season, Austin Howard played in all 13 games for Vanderbilt and posted 8 tackles with 1 tackle for loss, a strong sign of early trust from the staff and immediate special-teams/rotation value. His appeal is less about eye-popping volume and more about availability, consistency, and a readiness to contribute as a young defender. Vanderbilt’s roster page also lists him at linebacker, while EA Sports rated him 67 overall in College Football 26, suggesting a developing player with room to grow into a reliable fit for a depth-driven defense.
