It is early in the 2028 recruiting cycle, but if one were to handicap the candidates for who Michigan’s quarterback in that class will be, the odds would likely favor Fresno (Calif.) Clovis West’s J.J. Howard.
Howard is a big, physical 6-foot-3, 205-pound prospect who fits the mold of what Kyle Whittingham’s staff appears to like in their quarterbacks. The 2027 commit, Kamden Lopati, is also from out west, but is 6-foot-3, 220 pounds with dual-threat ability. Howard brings similar athletic talents to the fold.
“A two-sport standout, Howard is focusing strictly on football moving forward, where he’s one of the top dual-threats out West,” says Rivals west coast analyst Brandon Huffman. “He excels in the shorter and intermediate routes but can also hit the deep pass as well.
“Doesn’t mind running through a defender when in the open field. Spent the offseason reshaping his body and is down nearly 30 pounds. A younger quarterback for his grade, Howard oozes upside. His father played at Cincinnati, so he has strong ties to the Midwest.”
Howard may be on the younger side, but he has always been ahead of the curve.
He was offered a scholarship by the Miami Hurricanes as an 8th grader. He stepped in as a varsity player his freshman year and immediately uncorked a 71-yard touchdown in his first high school game.
Today, he has 30 scholarship offers, but Michigan is an early top choice.
“Michigan is on his short list, probably in his top two,” says Huffman, “and that goes back to his relationship with Jason Beck and Kyle Whittingham to their time at Utah. Whittingham signed his 7v7 teammate, Lamarcus Bell and recruited several of his 7v7 teammates, so there is a familiarity with the coaching staff. It is the lone school he has a visit for the fall set in stone with.”
Howard will be in Ann Arbor on Sept. 26 for Michigan’s game against Iowa.
“I don’t have a dream school, but I’d say Michigan is a big one,” Howard said to Huffman.
SMU is the other school Howard says is recruiting him the hardest.
Arkansas, BYU, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Oregon, UCLA, Utah and Washington round out his list of top schools.
Rivals currently has Howard ranked the No. 33 quarterback in the 2028 class.
Top recruits continue to set Oklahoma game visit
When Michigan hosts Oklahoma on Sept. 12, the game continues to grow in its importance as a recruiting weekend for the Wolverines.
Four-star defensive end Major Stokes is one of the newer additions to that visitor list. Many have Michigan as the team to beat for the 6-foot-5, 240-pound Orem (Utah) standout. He has been to campus for unofficial visits but not yet for a game.
Another four-star who will be there is Sammamish (Wash.) Eastside Catholic defensive lineman Aedyn Havili. A powerful 6-foot-2, 320-pound prospect, Havili had 7.5 sacks as a sophomore. Oregon, LSU and Ohio State are among the other schools recruiting him,
Havili attended Michigan’s Big Man Camp in June.
Allen Trieu covers Midwest football recruiting for On3. He has been featured on the Big Ten Network on its annual Signing Day Show. His Michigan and Michigan State recruiting columns appear weekly at detroitnews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Trieu: Michigan in strong position for 2028 QB J.J. Howard
Reporting by Allen Trieu, Special to The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Allen Trieu, Special to The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
