A Clemson offensive lineman is moving on from football. Veteran Tigers O-lineman Trent Howard, who had one year of eligibility remaining, was not listed on the team’s updated roster for the 2025 season heading into spring practice.
A team spokesman confirmed to The State that Howard, who appeared in 32 games for Clemson from 2020 to 2024, is no longer with the team as a scholarship player.
According to his LinkedIn page, Howard is now working as a wealth management associate for Raymond James, an investment banking company. Howard graduated from Clemson with a bachelor’s degree in financial management in 2023 and is currently pursuing an MBA at the university, per his LinkedIn.
“These last 5 years have truly been a blessing to me and I can never thank the people here enough for their influence and help in my life,” Howard wrote of Clemson. Listed at 6-foot-3, 295 pounds, Howard joined Clemson as a three-star recruit from Birmingham, Alabama in the Class of 2020 and played sparingly before becoming a solid reserve during his last two seasons with the Tigers.
He played 257 offensive snaps in 10 games and made his first three career starts during the 2023 season and had 178 snaps in nine games (one start) in 2024. Howard was listed as Clemson’s top backup left guard and right guard for most of last season. The veteran offensive lineman had one “COVID year” of eligibility remaining, per the team’s game notes, and technically could’ve returned for the 2025 season.
His departure isn’t a huge surprise, though. Coach Dabo Swinney said last year that Howard was planning on moving on from Clemson after graduating in four years. His increased role down the stretch in 2023 prompted him to return for a fifth year in 2024 and give the Tigers more OL depth as a redshirt senior.
Howard, per Clemson’s updated roster, was the only scholarship player with remaining eligibility who moved on from the team and did not enter the transfer portal.
Clemson had five scholarship players depart via the portal. Swinney and the Tigers start spring practice on Friday, Feb. 28, and Clemson’s annual Orange vs. White spring game is set for Saturday, April 5 at 1 p.m
