Texas A&M star Cashius Howell says arm-length concerns won’t define him after an 11.5-sack season and SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Cashius Howell isn’t losing sleep over the debate surrounding his NFL Draft profile.
The former Texas A&M edge rusher made that much clear after questions about his combine measurements followed an otherwise dominant 2025 season.
Howell’s answer was direct, confident and impossible to miss: “I ball out.”
That confidence is backed by production. Howell emerged as one of the most disruptive defenders in college football last season, winning SEC Defensive Player of the Year and earning unanimous consensus All-American recognition.
He finished with 11.5 sacks, the second-most in the SEC, and consistently gave opposing tackles problems with his first-step burst and closing speed.
At the NFL combine, though, the conversation shifted. Howell’s 30.25-inch arms became a major talking point after evaluators flagged his length as a potential limitation for an edge defender.
For some draft analysts, that measurement has been enough to push him out of first-round discussions and into the second-round range.
Howell isn’t buying the panic.
“I really don’t feel like it has that big of an impact or role,” Howell said during an appearance on Up & Adams. “The length of my arms hasn’t deterred me in any way.”
That response fits the player Texas A&M fans watched all season. Howell didn’t build his reputation by overpowering blockers with rare size.
He did it with timing, explosion and a refined approach to rushing the passer.
His testing numbers reinforced that style, too, with a 90th-percentile 40-yard dash and 92nd-percentile 10-yard split, marks that underline the quickness that made him such a problem off the edge.
Howell also made it clear he knows what the next step requires. He said success at the next level will come from continuing “to be a master of my craft and a master of my technique.”
That may be the biggest takeaway for NFL teams. Yes, the arm-length concern is real. But so is the film, the production and the mindset. And when a pass rusher wins in the SEC the way Howell did, betting against him feels risky.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community for FREE! Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable App to stay even more connected!