Note: The following appears in the NC State football gameday program.
Graduate offensive lineman Trent Howard is in his fifth season with the Tigers as a valuable piece in the trenches since his arrival in the fall of 2020. Howard described the 2024 offensive line as extremely tight-knit and as a group of individuals that truly needs to work as one unit in order to be successful.
“We all come together to achieve a common goal. It’s one of those positions where you all have to be on the same page. If you’re not, a lot of bad things can happen.”
Those “bad things” were limited in perhaps the most pivotal win of the 2023 season, as the Tigers held No. 12 Notre Dame to just one sack in their 31-23 victory, as well as clearing the way for Phil Mafah to total a career-high 186 rushing yards.
Howard earned his first career start against the Fighting Irish, helping Clemson begin a five-game winning streak to finish the 2023 season with a 9-4 record. Following the victory over Notre Dame, the Tigers rattled off victories over Georgia Tech, North Carolina, South Carolina and Kentucky to finish the year.
“The momentum changed after that game. That team had been through some adversity. As an offensive line group, we were asked to do a job, and we did it together.”
One of his favorite memories while playing for the Tigers came at the end of the 2021 season, when Clemson defeated Iowa State 20-13 in the Cheez-It Bowl.
“If you were there that day, you’ll always remember the locker room after the game. That was a special group of guys who came together towards the end of the year. We had a ton of injuries that year, and it felt good to end the season on such a high note.”
He also mentioned the victories over Notre Dame and South Carolina in 2023 as memorable moments for both himself and the team.
Beyond the games, Howard said he will remember the relationships he has made away from the football field.
“The summer workouts, hanging out in the facility and spending time with a good group of guys who you really enjoy being around are memories I’ll never forget. You give up a lot to be a part of something like this, and I believe I have given every day here my best effort.”
After graduating with a degree in financial management in December, Howard had an opportunity to begin his life after football as a financial advisor in his hometown of Birmingham, Ala., but he ultimately decided to return to the team for a fifth season this fall. He will begin his career in Birmingham following this season.
“I believed there was some unfinished business here. I really liked the work we did this summer, but the chance to win a championship is there. I still have something to give for this team.”
When asked how Clemson has prepared him for his career, Howard said not just attending the university, but being on the football team along with being a P.A.W. Journey ambassador specifically played a huge impact on his professional development, work ethic and how to be competitive on and off the field.
“It really taught me to become more disciplined. I’ve taken away some things that you wouldn’t get from just high school football. P.A.W. Journey has allowed me to get some outside experience through internships. It has taught me to treat my academics like it’s a game and to give everything I do my best.”
When it comes to leaving a legacy at Clemson, Howard wants to be remembered as “always accountable and a good guy to have around.”
“People never remember what you say, but they always remember how they made you feel. I hope that every teammate I’ve had here would have nothing but positive thoughts about their time around me.”
As Howard plays his final season with the Tigers, he looks to continue building these lifelong relationships with his teammates, coaches, classmates and everyone who he interacts with this season and in the future.
