Former App State standout and NFL defender AJ Howard returned home to be an outside linebackers coach with the Mountaineers in February 2023.
Howard was named to the 35 Under 35 Class for 2024 from the American Football Coaches Association as a first-year App State assistant.
Working with App State’s outside linebackers, Howard helped mentor true freshman Nate Johnson, who was named a Freshman All-American with 7.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. Johnson entered the postseason tied for first place nationally in sacks by an FBS freshman.
During the 2024 season, outside linebackers Thomas Davis and Johnson combined for 5.5 sacks, while Howard also worked with App State’s “Star” defenders. Davis contributed to sacks in three games, and Johnson closed the year with a two-sack performance.
After a standout career in Boone as a three-year starting safety, Howard won a Super Bowl ring as a member of the 2018-19 New England Patriots. He then served as a graduate assistant coach at Louisville and an area scout for the Patriots.
Howard spent 2021 and 2022 as a Southeast area scout for the Patriots, with whom he played in the 2019 preseason. He also spent time on the rosters of the Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions before earning his first coaching position as a graduate assistant on Scott Satterfield’s Louisville staff. He worked with the UL defense during the 2020 season.
A 2017 graduate of App State, Howard started every game at strong safety in 2014, 2016 and 2017 and led the Mountaineers to three straight bowl wins in their first three years being bowl eligible from 2015-17. He received All-Sun Belt distinction his junior and senior years while helping the program to its first two Sun Belt Conference titles.
He totaled 222 tackles in 51 career games played (38 starts), while also tallying four interceptions and 18 passes defended. Serving as a team captain in 2017 and a leader throughout his tenure, App State's defense ranked first or second among Sun Belt teams in both points allowed per game and yards allowed per game in each of Howard's last three seasons.
Howard and his wife, Sammie, have a son, Duke.
HOWARD AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2020: Louisville (Graduate assistant - defense)
2021-22: New England Patriots (Southeast area scout/assistant)
2023-24: App State (Outside linebackers)
Playing Experience
2014-17: App State (Safety)
2018: Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, New England Patriots (Safety)
2019: New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions (Safety)
Alma Mater: App State, 2017
Hometown: Hamilton, Ga.
Birthdate: Dec. 23, 1995
Wife: Sammie
Son: Duke
Twitter: @AJHOWARD_ASU
