COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Cashius Howell learned quite a bit during his time in a Bowling Green State University football jersey the past three seasons.

He’s grateful for the opportunities he received as a Falcon, and it has helped him tremendously in his recent transition to Texas A&M.

“One thing I think that I’ve learned is after getting a chance to experience what life was like in a [Group of Five] level school and getting blessed enough to be able to come to a nice program like this that has endless resources and stuff like that, I feel like it almost kind of humbled me and put things into perspective for me,” Howell told The Blade this week. “Especially now that I’m here in this moment, it makes me want to continue to be grateful and still wear that same chip on my shoulder that I wore at BG back whenever I didn’t have as much of the extracurricular things that I have at A&M.

“So I feel like it’s definitely taught me to, just perspective on how things can be and to be grateful for your situation that you’re in currently.”

Howell, a third-team All-Mid-American Conference linebacker for BGSU during a standout 2023 campaign, will be facing his former team Saturday night when No. 25 Texas A&M hosts the Falcons. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound junior defensive lineman transferred to Texas A&M earlier this year and has quickly picked up where he left off at BGSU.

During the 2023 season, Howell racked up 9½ sacks to finish tied for first in the MAC and tied for 16th in the FBS in that category.

He finished his BGSU career with 56 total tackles, including 27 solo, 13 for loss, and 11.5 sacks, in 30 games.

“When he came in, you could kind of tell he had some unique traits, something that not a lot of guys have,” BGSU senior linebacker Brock Horne said. “Unbelievable bend, his quick twitch; his pass rush was awesome. You could tell right away he was going to be something special, and it was kind of cool to see him develop in the player that he should be.”

Through four games as an Aggie, Howell ranks fourth on the team with nine total tackles. His best game so far came in a 33-20 Southeastern Conference win over Florida in which he had four total tackles, including three solo and one sack.

Howell’s 68 snaps played this season, according to Pro Football Focus, ranks fifth on Texas A&M among its defensive linemen. His 80.9 run defense grade ranks first on the team, and his 82.7 tackling grade is third.

“It was a pretty smooth transition, I would say,” Howell said. “As far as the defense, it wasn’t all that hard to pick up on and get the ball rolling with that and being able to move fast within a defense, which is I feel like my edge that I have over the offensive linemen and stuff like that.

“So the transition’s been good. I don’t really have any complaints. It’s been great ever since I got here.”

Howell said he’s “pretty excited” to see his former teammates and talk to them after the game, and that it will be good to see BGSU coach Scot Loeffler as well.

But his focus during the week was to do whatever he could to help the Aggies pick up a win.

“At the end of the day, we’re playing football and I’m not with them anymore,” Howell said. “I’m against them, so obviously want to just be [focused] this week on just doing our jobs and getting the fits right and executing at all phases of the defense, offense, and special teams.”

Howell, a native of Kansas City, was one of several key BGSU players from last year’s squad to transfer in the offseason. Jalen Huskey, a 2023 first-team All-MAC cornerback, has excelled at Maryland (2-1 record) with 11 total tackles and two interceptions through three games, while former BGSU running back Ta’ron Keith has 105 rushing yards and three touchdowns through three games with South Florida (2-1).

Loeffler said he’s “super happy for Cashius” in what he’s done so far at Texas A&M.

“We recruited Cashius, love him and his family. Him and I are super close,” Loeffler said. “He’s doing well down there, and I love to watch our guys do well. He’s doing great, so I’m proud of him.”

Added Horne: “I think it’s obviously exciting to be able to go against a guy who you played with, and Cashius, I don’t think there’s any animosity towards him leaving. He went to a bigger school, it wasn’t like he made the lateral move, and personally, I was very close with Cashius just in the fact that he was the freshman that I was supposed to mentor when he came in.

“So it’s exciting. Obviously, we’ll get to be enemies for a little bit, but knowing Cashius, he’s going to be all smiles, especially at the end of it when he gets to see everyone because he’s a great guy. Just looking forward to seeing him after the game, hopefully after we win.”

First Published September 20, 2024, 2:29 p.m.