MTSU DB John Howse IV joins Hogs

January 18, 2026

John Howse IV
Defensive Back | 6-1 | 194 | Brentwood, Tenn. | Brentwood HS / Vanderbilt / Middle Tennessee

At Middle Tennessee
2025 (REDSHIRT SENIOR): Saw action in four of the Blue Raiders’ first five games, starting all four games he appeared in, making 13 tackles with one tackle for loss and one sack … Recorded a pair of stops in season opener vs. Austin Peay (Aug. 30) … Logged a season-best six tackles, including a TFL and a sack, at Nevada (Sept. 13) … Made three stops vs. Marshall (Sept. 20) … Tallied two tackles at Kennesaw State (Sept. 27) in his final action of the season.

2024 (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Played in all 12 games with 11 starts in his first season at Middle Tennessee … Finished the season fifth on the squad with 48 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and one forced fumble … His 688 snaps led all defensive players according to Pro Football Focus … Made his first collegiate start vs. Tennessee Tech (Aug. 31), recording five tackles with a TFL and 42-yard interception return … Posted a pair of TFLs with one sack and a forced fumble to go with six tackles at Ole Miss (Sept. 7) … Recorded six tackles in back-to-back games vs. Western Kentucky (Sept. 14) and vs. Duke (Sept. 21), adding his second interception in four games against the Blue Devils … Credited with seven tackles at Memphis (Sept. 28) … Tallied three stops at Louisiana Tech (Oct. 10) before adding three more the following week vs. Kennesaw State (Oct. 15) … Made three tackles at Jacksonville State (Oct. 23) … Posted a half tackle for loss and two total tackles at UTEP (Nov. 2) … Tacked on two more tackles vs. Liberty (Nov. 9) and three vs. New Mexico State (Nov. 23) … In the season finale at FIU (Nov. 30), recorded two tackles.

At Vanderbilt
2023 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Saw action in 11 games, recording 15 tackles and picking off one pass … Made three tackles vs. Alabama A&M (Sept. 2) … Posted a season-best five tackles at UNLV (Sept. 16) … Logged three stops at Florida (Oct. 7) … Tallied a solo stop at Ole Miss (Oct. 28) … Broke up a pass and made three tackles vs. Auburn (Nov. 4).

2022 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in eight games, making five tackles … Recorded two tackles in season opener at Hawaii (Aug. 27) … Three tackles at NIU (Sept. 17) was a season-high.

2021 (FRESHMAN): Played in two games and redshirted during his first year on West End.

HIGH SCHOOL: A three-star recruit out of Brentwood HS and the No. 14 prospect in Tennessee according to Rivals … Tabbed the No. 42 safety nationally by Rivals and the No. 66 cornerback by 247Sports … Selected to The Tennessean’s Dandy Dozen in 2020 as well as All-Midstate first team … Helped lead Brentwood HS to state championship game, making 28 tackles and intercepting four passes as a senior … As a junior, recorded 60 tackles with five tackles for loss and one sack.

PERSONAL: Son of John and Lindy Howse … Born Sept. 7, 2002.