Howard lettered all four years at LSU and was the first true freshman to start at quarterback for LSU since Steve Ensminger in 1976. He started six games, and played in eight, as a freshman, started ten games as a sophomore, nine his junior year and seven as a senior. Howard remained a member of the Atlanta Braves organization while enrolled at LSU and played in the Braves' minor leagues after his freshman and sophomore seasons. In his first three years at LSU, he struggled with interceptions, throwing 17 his junior year.
