4-star offensive lineman commits to the Razorbacks

Connor Howes, a 4-star offensive lineman, verbally committed to the University of Arkansas on Friday afternoon, becoming the third offensive lineman in the 2025 class to do so.

During his official visit to Fayetteville over the May 31-June 2 weekend, Razorbacks offensive line coach Eric Mateos picked up Howes and his parents at the airport.

“It just felt like home, the minute he picked us up,” said Howes, who received his scholarship offer from Mateos on February 22. “The environment over there and everything about it just felt like home. Mateos … he’s been showing an immense amount of love the whole time—consistently hitting me up, consistently asking me what I’m doing, checking in on me. It felt like I belonged.”

Howes, standing 6’6″ and weighing 300 pounds, hails from Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola. He chose the Razorbacks over offers from Ole Miss, Miami, Mississippi State, Maryland, North Carolina State, Rutgers, Central Florida, South Florida, Houston, and other programs.

His conversation with Coach Sam Pittman during the visit solidified his decision.

“It was everything I wanted and more,” Howes said of Arkansas. “Hanging out with the players and seeing how well they get along. It’s everything I wanted and more. I can’t wait to go play for them.”

Howes reports impressive strength metrics, including a 350-pound bench press, a 375-pound power clean, and a 505-pound squat. He has been selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American game at The Star in Frisco, Texas, in December.

On3.com rates Howes as a 4-star prospect, the No. 13 offensive tackle, and the No. 130 overall recruit for the 2025 class. Razorback offensive tackle Fernando Carmona hosted Howes during his visit.

“One of the main questions I asked all of them was, ‘How are they outside of recruiting?'” Howes said. “Obviously, I only know a lot of the coaches just from the recruiting standpoint, but I want to know how they are on the field and off the field. You have to have a great bond with your O-line coach because that’s who you spend most of your time with, and they were all saying they will have cookouts every so often. They’ll go out to dinner. It’s a lot of bonding, and that’s what you need as an O-lineman because you guys are practically one group that talks as much as anyone else.”

Howes plans to enroll at Arkansas in January and is being recruited to play left tackle.

“I didn’t talk about the money,” Howes said. “I didn’t care about NIL. My whole thing is I want to go in there and play. I think I have a great chance of going in my freshman year and starting my freshman year. … [Carmona], I think he’s going to end up making it to the league this year and be drafted.”

Three-star offensive lineman Blake Cherry, 6’6″ and 280 pounds, from Owasso, Okla., committed to the Razorbacks on June 1. Arkansas also added the commitment of 3-star offensive lineman Kash Courtney, 6’4″ and 270 pounds, from Carthage, Texas, on Thursday.

Howes is the 10th commitment for Arkansas in the 2025 class, which was ranked No. 53 nationally by On3.com prior to his commitment.