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Welcome to the #MizFam St. Louis, MO About to be #MizzouMade
— Nick Otterbacher (@Coach_Otter) January 31, 2015
BREAKING NEWS: Nate Howard has committed to Mizzou
— LThornton_KSDK (@USATodayHSS_STL) January 31, 2015
#MizzouMade: #STL!!!! GP
— Coach Gary Pinkel (@GaryPinkel) January 31, 2015
OFFICIALLY A MIZZOU TIGER!!! pic.twitter.com/zlQM1ozSEC
— Nate Howard (@Nate_Howard_) January 31, 2015
DE Nate Howard (6'5, 220, St. Louis, Mo.)
Rivals: *** | 247: *** | ESPN: ***
Turns out that 247 had it predicted:
Nate Howard is a defensive end from Ladue in St. Louis, he'd pledged to Wisconsin long ago, then opened up his recruitment a bit when Badger head coach Gary Andersen left for Oregon State.
Mizzou had him in town last weekend on an official visit then Gary Pinkel had an in-home visit with him this week.
It's hard for me not to look at his build and play style and not be reminded, to a degree, of Aldon Smith.
Senior Season highlights below:
Watching Howard's highlight reel it is evident he is more than familiar with rushing the passer coming off the edge out of a two point stance. He is a dogged pursuer of the ball-carrier and displays a degree of ferocity hitting his man. He sheds blockers by relying on his natural athleticism and speed with some hand-fighting skills. We also see him line up and play on offense as an outside blocker or receiver on quick screens.
Nate Howard will join Tyrell Jacobs and JUCO transfer Marcell Frazier in Mizzou's 2015 recruiting class and depending on what position he ends up at would be the 3rd defensive lineman or joining Franklin "Smash" Agbasimere as Mizzou's 2nd linebacker.
Welcome to the Mizzou family.