Oklahoma State Gets Indiana's Leading Rusher in 2023 Out of Transfer Portal
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State had some injury issues at running back during spring football, not with starter Ollie Gordon II or with back up Sesi Vailahi, but there apparently was a need to get another running back into the fold before next season.
Oklahoma State has a loaded, veteran roster and was looking for running back depth. They found it as Friday night Indiana transfer running back Trent Howland visited Oklahoma State and committed to the Cowboys. This was first reported on Twitter by Pete Thamel after Howland released it on his Instagram account.
Howland is a big back at 6-3, 240 pounds, which could help in goal line situations. Last season he had 75 carries for 359-yards and averaged 4.7-yards a carry. He had two touchdowns. He came on his visit with his mother (Valerie) and father (Terry) and he wanted to come to Oklahoma State. Howland is originally from Joliet West High School in Joliet, Ill.
Howland was considering Duke, Mississippi, and several schools in Florida. Howland will give Oklahoma State a different style of running back along with the NCAA’s leading rusher and Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon, who is a big fleet back with power and speed. Sesi Vailahi is a Jaylen Walker clone that is very talented, runs low to the ground and combine speed and moves with great lower body strength and control. Howland is a big, bruising style of running back.
Howland will be a red-shirt junior this season at Oklahoma State. In high school he was named the Southwest Prairie Conference Most Valuable Player as a junior after leading the program to its first conference championship in 50 years. He rushed for 1,401 on 178 carries (7.9 average) with 14 touchdowns. He was ranked the No. 16 among prospects in Illinois by ESPN and was the No. 54 athlete in the nation according to another national recruiting site.