25 Players in 25 Days: #7 Cashius Howell

Position: Defensive End
Classification: Redshirt Senior
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Listed Height: 6-2
Listed Weight: 248 lbs.

Key notes from Olin’s thoughts on Howell

• We might be at the end of the year, going, “Man, we had this guy criminally underrated.”
   
• I think Cashius Howell is one of those guys…I think he was A&M’s best defensive lineman post-October. I think I remember him forcing a fumble and sack against Texas. I think he had a sack or interception against USC.
   
• He was extremely active, and we had heard things about him. During November, he was exceptional. I thought he needed to get better at run defense. I know he can rush the passer, no doubt about that at all. Huge. He had four sacks last year. I don’t know how many snaps he had, but it wasn’t as many as the starters. But right now, I'd put the under/over at eight.
   
• I feel really good about him as a pass rusher. I’ve had a coach tell me this kid is a problem. He has gotten better. He looks great, but to be the complete end, first-round pick and all those things he can be…Based on what I saw last year, he just needs to get better against the run. But there’s no doubt about him as a pass rusher. If he does show improvement against the run, then yes, he will be criminally underrated.
   
• He’s plenty big enough for an end, especially if he has speed. Look, I'll say it again, he’s a heck of a pass rusher. He may be pushing double digits in sack totals, and then he would go from a projected day two draft pick to a day one draft pick if he just becomes the complete guy and gets strong against the run.
   
• I wonder what a year of offseason understanding what you have to get into and working for Tommy Moffitt. I bet it does a lot.

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