Four-star offensive-line recruit won’t enroll at Missouri this fall

Missouri will have to make do on its offensive line without Butler (Kan.) Community College tackle Tyler Howell.

Howell, a graduate of Bonner Springs High, was expected to compete for a starting spot at right tackle and figure heavily into the rotation up front this season, but the Tigers confirmed Monday that Howell will not enroll at MU for the fall semester.

Howell, a 6-foot-9, 302-pound prospect, was finishing coursework at Butler this summer, but he did not pass the necessary classes to enroll at Missouri.

It’s a blow to the Tigers’ depth.

“Not only does he have excellent size; he has all those other things from an athletic standpoint …,” offensive coordinator Josh Henson said on national signing day. “If Tyler will work really hard and do the things he’s supposed to do, you think you’ve got a chance for it to be something pretty special.”

Howell is the only member of MU’s 2015 signing class who won’t make it to campus.

ESPN and Scout.com gave Howell a four-star rating, while Rivals and 247Sports listed him as a three-star recruit.

He picked Missouri despite offers from Arkansas, Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State, Arizona State, Louisville, Kansas and Oklahoma State, among others.

Sophomores Nate Crawford (6-5, 300) and Clay Rhodes (6-5, 290) were listed in the top two spots at right tackle at spring practice.

Crawford is a converted defensive lineman, and Rhodes is a Blue Valley graduate.

BV West graduate Michael Fairchild is listed third at right tackle entering the fall camp.

This story was originally published August 3, 2015 at 1:55 PM with the headline "Four-star offensive-line recruit won’t enroll at Missouri this fall."