Flips happen all the time on the college football recruiting trail and Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss were the beneficiaries of a big one on Thursday.
Connor Howes, a four-star offensive tackle from Kissimmee, Florida, has decided to change his commitment from Arkansas to Ole Miss. He had been committed to the Razorbacks since June 2024, but he ultimately felt that the best move for his future was to join Kiffin at Ole Miss.
It wasn’t an easy decision, though. Howes told 247Sports. He knew he wanted to play SEC football and he had a good relationship with Arkansas offensive line coach Erik Mateos and head coach Sam Pittman. At the end of the day, though, he had to do what he felt was best for him.
“The whole coaching staff showed so much love and support. They were always there for me whenever I needed anything … It was hard to make this decision, but at the end of the day, it’s my future, and I can’t worry about other people’s feelings. I’m going to be the one the next four to five years at a college,” Howes said to 247Sports.
Howes took an official visit to Ole Miss in June and the was back in town to see the Rebels take on Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. That was a game Ole Miss won, 26-14.
“Honestly, the visit to Ole Miss was eye-opening. It really opened up my eyes. I realized how much more there is out there. I’m not saying they were offering me anything more than Arkansas was, but at the end of the day, those coaches will be there at Ole Miss. I don’t have to worry about them getting fired or anything,” Howes explained. “They’ve been consistent the last five years. Ole Miss went 9-3 this year, just barely missed the playoffs. It just shows that they are a consistently good team.”
That’s a bit of a shot at Pittman at Arkansas, who will be coming back in 2025, but winning also translates to success on the recruiting trail. Pittman is 29-31 in five seasons at Arkansas. Kiffin is 43-18 at Ole Miss in the same time period.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Howes is the No. 33 offensive tackle in the 2025 class.
