After suffering from tendinitis in his right
leg, Northwestern's Loren Howard's 2005 season seemed up in the
air. But after having surgery to correct the situation, it was Howard
himself who determined his fate for this year by announcing his transfer to
Arizona State.
Only a couple of days into practice for the
upcoming season, Wildcat coach Randy Walker was quoted as saying Howard, "was
not the same player he was two years ago." Opting for season-ending knee
surgery late last week, Howard decided to rehabilitate his knee in the town he
hails from, Phoenix, and told NU coaches of his pending transfer to Arizona
State.
Northwestern hoped Howard would lead the
defense this season after missing the first six games last year because of a
severe ankle injury. A devastating force as a sophomore, Howard posted 8
sacks and 16 tackles for loss in 2003.
This is Howard's third surgery in two
years. Prior to the knee operation of last week he had procedures
completed on both ankles.
A potential first-round pick in the 2006 NFL
Draft, there had been rumblings for weeks now in scouting circles about Howard's
playing status and health for the upcoming season.
In other injury news, LSU running back Alley Broussard will also miss the 2005 season after suffering a knee injury in
practice. A big, bruising ball carrier, Broussard's role in the offense
was to be expanded for the upcoming season.
Only a junior, Broussard carried a first-round
grade and would've competed to be the first back selected had he left for the
NFL after a successful '05 campaign.