Coming out of high school in Jacksonville, linebacker Grayson Howard was described by 247Sports as "a tackling machine with the mentality of an alpha."
Who wouldn't want someone like that in their football program?
And when new USF football coach Brian Hartline saw Howard's name in the Transfer Portal in early January this year, he quickly made his move and Howard agreed. He is expected to be a key cog in the Bulls' rebuilt defense this season.
But it hasn't been an easy ride for Howard since leaving Andrew Jackson High School. He spent a year at South Carolina before transferring to the Florida Gators to be closer to home. He had a fine 2024 season for the Gators, starting the first nine games before a high ankle sprain sidelined him for the rest of the season. In the spring, another setback -- what was described as a "soft tissue injury" put him behind the 8-ball.
Before that, Pro Football Focus graded him at 84.2 on run defense, which is near elite.
The second injury limited him to three games last season -- including a brief appearance in USF's upset 18-16 win at The Swamp. Howard had one solo and one assisted tackle in that game.
Now, he is one of 41 transfers Hartline brought in and is ready for a fresh start.
"I told the players when I first met them that we're going to swing first and ask questions later," defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge said. "We're going to be the aggressor."
That would seem to perfectly fit the way Howard wants to play -- maybe with a little chip on his shoulder.
Let's start with his nickname: Pup. For someone described as an alpha, being called Pup sounds a little off kilter.
"I got the nickname my eighth grade year, going into ninth grade. I was practicing with the high school during their spring season, and the coach at the time, Coach Smith, he said, I'm going to call you Pup because I know one day you're going to be a big dog," he said. It's stuck ever since."
During a media session on Tuesday, he was asked if he was a big dog yet.
"I'm still trying to get there. Still trying to get there. It's a humbling nickname. I don't think it would ever change," he said with a chuckle.
The nickname may stick but the alpha description his high school coach predicted seems more appropriate.
"Man, what a great leader. Like one of the better leaders I've been around. Really neat," Aldridge said.
"Pup's like gold, what Coach A.T. (Antonio Turner) calls gold standard in terms of body fat percentage and his size and things like that. I mean, it's really nice to have a long linebacker like that. It creates a lot of issues out there on the hash to be 6'3 and some change,"
If he hadn't been injured, Howard might still be at Florida. Things have a way of working out, though.
"I started every game in 2024 that I played. And then you have an injury, and you're like, okay, well, you know, just a minor setback. I'll be back in no time. And then you have another injury, and then that puts your recovery two weeks before the season. And then at that time, you had no offseason, and you're like, well, I can just do what I can to help the team. It's a very humbling experience, for sure, because you know what you're capable of, and you just know that the circumstances that you were put in," he said.
"But if you're a Christian, you read the story of Job, and you realize that it could be worse. And you read the stories online about everybody in America that's going through something, and then you realize that it could be worse. I get to play college football. I get my education paid for. I get to play on Saturday nights, and I get to be around great guys and great coaches. So I'm very proud of the position that God has put me in."
And the injuries -- fully recovered?
"I feel great. Our training staff is really elite. I work with Kyle (Cherry). He's the greatest guy as a trainer and as a human. Keeps me working every single day," he said.
"Coach A.T., our strength coach. He's great at what he does, him and his staff. And I feel amazing. I'm practicing 100 percent, being with the guys 100 percent. So can't complain. I'm happy that I chose to put my trust in those people."