Connor Howes is making the most of his opportunity at Ole Miss, and head coach Pete Golding is taking notice.
“I think he’s played his butt off,” Golding said Monday.
With Tommy Kinsler IV dealing with an injury, Howes stepped into a bigger role at right tackle during Saturday’s 52-17 victory over Vanderbilt.
The 6-foot-6, 315-pound sophomore has continued developing since making his first career start against Charlotte earlier this season.
And the more he plays, the more comfortable he appears to be getting.
“I think we’re getting better and better every week, especially Connor. The more he plays, the better he gets,” Golding said.
Earning Golding’s Trust
Howes is also part of an offensive line that’s starting to find some consistency.
Golding revealed that all five starting offensive linemen earned offensive player-of-the-game recognition against Vanderbilt. He credited improved communication, stronger double teams and better blocking at the second level.
For Howes, those SEC snaps are valuable, especially when it comes to recognizing defensive pressure, improving technique and handling pass protection.
Meanwhile, Kinsler’s health will help determine how Ole Miss handles its right tackle rotation moving forward.
But Howes is making sure the coaching staff has another option.
With Missouri coming to Oxford, the sophomore faces another opportunity to prove himself against SEC competition.
Howes still has plenty to prove, but he’s showing Golding that Ole Miss has another tackle it can count on.
And with the Rebels entering another important stretch of conference play, that added depth could make a difference.
