The former Tulane Green Wave linebacker will look to head to the 2026 NFL draft after a strong showing at Tulane's pro day.
The Tulane Green Wave football team will hold their local pro day on Tuesday, March 24, for the group of draft-eligible players who have declared to show off their skill sets and hopefully test well in measurables. One player who made an undeniable impact added himself to that list, as linebacker Sam Howard declared for the NFL draft on Saturday. Howard transferred to the Green Wave to Austin Peay in 2024 under former head coach Jon Sumrall and spent two seasons with Tulane. His legacy, however, will forever be etched in Green Wave history as an impactful leader who made an unmeasurable impact on and off the field.
Howard arrived in Sumrall’s first season as the Green Wave’s head coach and quickly became the heartbeat of the team. In 2024, Howard was second on the team in tackles with 63 total, fourth in tackles for loss, and had an astonishing team-leading five fumble recoveries. He returned for the 2025 season as an even more critical leader who made an impact even when he was out for a several game stretch due to a fractured fibula – after which he made his return less than a month later with screws in his body post-surgery. Howard still finished the 2025 campaign third in team in tackles for loss with 8.5 for 31 yards and fourth in sacks with four for 24 yards.
Now, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Howard will try to make a splash in the big leagues. He certainly has the instinct and the size for it. For reference, former Tulane and current Buffalo Bills linebacker Dorian Williams is 6-foot-1, 228 pounds. But he also offers considerable intangibles to an NFL locker room with his leadership skills and qualities that go past a football field.
For now, he’ll look to leave his mark on NFL teams at the Green Wave’s local pro day. The metrics of height, weight, and speed are as critical to a player’s hopeful NFL career as their tape is, especially when it comes to a fringe player, or a guy who might be picked up as an undrafted free agent. A strong 40-yard dash and prototypal size and speed might push one guy over the edge; a poor showing on agility drills might drop a guy off a team’s radar. There are a ton of things that go into it, but a strong pro day showing can do a lot for players. Howard will look to do the same alongside multiple Tulane players on Tuesday.