Spring Tour Stop No. 14: Howell focuses on busy summer, prepping for FSU
MONROE, N.C. -- As Willie Taggart looks to put his imprint on the Florida State football program, one of his most important steps will be signing a quarterback who will be the right fit to lead his offense.
Rivals250 quarterback Sam Howell is the early frontrunner to claim that honor, having committed to Taggart and the Seminoles earlier this spring. In the latest stop on our Spring Recruiting Tour, the Warchant staff spends some time with Howell to talk about his future at FSU, his goals for his senior season, how he is working to recruit other prospects for the Seminoles and more.
Watch the video feature above, and read the entire report that follows. Also see the previous stops on our Spring Recruiting Tour:
Stop 1: Madison County -- Checking in on FSU commit Travis Jay, more
Stop 2: Hollywood Chaminade -- WR Dunmore, teammates have FSU's attention
Stop 3: Cardinal Gibbons DE Bogle opens up about the 'Noles
Stop 4: FSU commit Akeem Dent oozes confidence
Stop 5: 'Noles hot on trail of several IMG targets
Stop 6: Rivals100 OL Putnam talks Frey, FSU and more
Stop 7: Polk County prospects high on the 'Noles
Stop 8: What's the latest with D-Linemen Fuller, Hunter?
Stop 9: Emerging Peach State LB very high on FSU
Stop 10: Four-star DE Fann impressed by new FSU staff
Stop 11: FSU pushing hard for four-star UGA commitment Marshall
Howell believes FSU offense will be a perfect fit
While many top prospects covet attention during the recruiting process, Sun Valley High standout QB Sam Howell is certainly not one of them.
Howell took his time when making his college decision, but once he knew where he wanted to go, he didn't hesitate in jumping on board with the Seminoles.
"It was everything together that I knew that was where I wanted to be," Howell told Warchant. "I really connected with Coach Taggart and what he's building at FSU. Also, that offense fits me really well, and I knew that even more after watching the spring game."
Because his talents extend beyond the football field, there has been some concern among Florida State fans about whether Howell's baseball potential might take away from his attention to the gridiron. Howell sports a 0.67 ERA as a pitcher, and his batting average hovers above .400.
While he wouldn't rule out playing both sports in college, the four-star prospect said his sole focus when he gets to Tallahassee will be on competing for the starting quarterback position.
"Football is my main focus -- and being the starting quarterback," Howell said. "After that, I might consider playing both sports at Florida State if I do that. But right now, it's all about football for me when I get to FSU."
What's perhaps most interesting about Howell's commitment to FSU is there was a time when it looked like it might never happen.
Florida State's previous coaching staff had not been showing him a lot of attention, which left him wondering whether he was a priority to the Seminoles. It wasn't until Taggart took over and had a one-on-one meeting with the North Carolina product that things turned in a positive direction.
"Coach Taggart made it quite clear that Sam was very much a top priority and a quarterback that Willie wanted badly," Howell's father, Duke, said. "After that meeting, I think Sam knew everything he needed to about being a priority."
Duke Howell is not just the father of Sun Valley's star quarterback; he also is the team's offensive coordinator.
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