Report: Gophers working hard to sign LSU transfer Jaxon Howard

Is it just a matter of time before former four-star recruit Jaxon Howard signs to play for his home state Minnesota Golden Gophers?

According to KSTP-TV's Darren Wolfson, Minnesota is working hard to get Howard in maroon and gold colors. 

"I mentioned on Tuesday the Gophers were pushing hard. As of Tuesday night the Gophers officially offered Jaxon Howard. I promise you, behind the scenes there is a lot of work going on to try to secure the services of Willie Howard's son," Wolfson said Thursday on SKOR North's Mackey & Judd. 

Howard is the son of former Stanford star Willie Howard, who played one season with the Minnesota Vikings and later coached his son at Robbinsdale Cooper in the Twin Cities. 

Minnesota offered Howard a scholarship on Tuesday less than 24 hours after the NCAA's spring transfer portal window opened. Howard, the No. 1 recruit in Minnesota's high school class of 2023, spent his freshman season at LSU before entering the portal. 

If Howard winds up signing with Minnesota it would mean each of the last four No. 1-ranked high school players in the state have signed with the Gophers. 

The No. 1 player in 2025 is Robbinsdale Cooper linebacker Emmanuel Karmo. He committed to Minnesota earlier this month. Safety Koi Perich (Esko) chose Minnesota over Ohio State as the No. 1 player in 2024, Howard was No. 1 in 2023 and Trey Bixby (Eden Prairie) signed with the Gophers in 2022, though he just recently entered the transfer portal.