The ink isn’t even dry during the CFB regular season, but there’s no standing-on ceremony. The transfer portal has already seen plenty of activity from the outset. The advent of the portal has enabled do-overs. Enabled college athletes who’re seeking a change in scenery, a fresh start. Typically, this is an attempt to further their careers. Atypically, you may need to leave your current disposition because of a breakup, which could have tangible implications for an already stagnating career. That is the predicament Ole Miss quarterback Walker Howard finds himself in.
The 2022 class, Howard has left the Rebels to join the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. The decision that led to this move was almost definitively multi-faceted. However, in pure college athletics fashion, Walker Howard may have been pushed over the edge because he broke up with Landry Kiffin, daughter of Rebels’ HC Lane Kiffin. As far-fetched as this may sound, Landry herself has added fuel to this notion.
Landry Kiffin is a student at Ole Miss, and the pair began dating at some point after Howard’s initial transfer from LSU in 2023. In the 2 seasons since, he backed up QB1 Jaxson Dart with limited playing time. A move may have been on the cards regardless, but Landry’s subtle social media activity hasn’t helped to thwart this hypothesis.
In a post on Instagram, CFB content creator Adam Faris theorised how the break-up was indeed why Walker Howard was entering the portal. He explicitly stated, “Now, I don’t want to say that Lane is going to keep his daughter’s ex on the bench for revenge. But I can’t imagine that [will] be a comfortable partnership for Kiffin or Walker moving forward.” A fair assumption. Sensationally, Landry Kiffin herself came across this post. In the comments, she dropped a simple “🤷🏼♀️” emoji. It is conspicuous that while Landry didn’t directly cause this predicament, it is a byproduct of their ceased relationship.
While the break-up itself wasn’t very public, its repercussions sure are. CFB may not be a professional league, but it encompasses professionalism. A seasoned HC such as Lane Kiffin may have had no trouble in looking past this strictly off-field and private matter. But these are kids after all, and discomfort is understandable from all parties involved. Regardless, a transfer to his native Louisiana could transpire to be a great move for Howard after all.
Walker Howard played his high school football at St.Thomas More in Lafayette, Louisiana. It is less than 7 miles from his new destination. Howard’s decision to join the Ragin’ Cajuns is not just based on proximity. This past season, Louisiana started redshirt senior Chandler Fields under center. Now that he’s run out of eligibility, the starting spot is up for grabs.
Louisiana onboarding Howard has got to mean he has certain assurances that, at least initially, he’ll be the starter. This beckons to be his first shot at being QB1 since entering college. This seemingly is a win-win. Walker Howard gets an opportunity to fulfill his 5-star promise. Meanwhile, Louisiana gets its hands on a local kid who’s been learning his trade behind the likes of Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart at 2 high-level SEC programs
The Ragin’ Cajuns finished the season atop the Sun Belt West and made it to the Conference Championship Game. Walker Howard will seek to transition to this already functional machine seamlessly. He stands on the precipice of an overhaul of sorts, both professionally and personally.
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