Indiana Running Back Trent Howland Re-Entering Transfer Portal

After leading Indiana with 354 rushing yards in 2023, running back Trent Howland will enter the transfer portal with two years of eligibility.

Nov 11, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Indiana Hoosiers running back Trent Howland. / Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Trent Howland announced Friday he plans to enter the transfer portal when the spring window opens on Tuesday.

Howland originally entered the transfer portal following the 2023 season and committed to Minnesota, but he later changed his mind and returned to Indiana. And now, after going through most of spring practice under new head coach Curt Cignetti, he's transferring again.

Howland, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound running back, spent three seasons at Indiana under former head coach Tom Allen, and he has two years of eligibility remaining.

After totaling just eight carries for 32 yards in his first two seasons as a Hoosier, Howland had a breakout season in 2023. He finished the season as Indiana's leading rusher, totaling 75 carries for 354 yards and two touchdowns, good for 4.7 yards per carry. He also caught three passes for 22 yards.

Howland's biggest game of his career came on Nov. 18 against Michigan State, when he rushed 19 times for 77 yards and a touchdown. He averaged over five yards per carry in four other games against Purdue, Illinois, Rutgers and Michigan.

Cignetti has overhauled the Indiana running back room with the addition of four transfers: Kaelon Black (James Madison), Ty Son Lawton (James Madison), Justice Ellison (Wake Forest) and Elijah Green (North Carolina).