Sports Release
December 9, 1998

MICHAEL WALTON SELECTED TO DIVISION II ALL-WEST REGION TEAM
Eastern New Mexico University junior middle linebacker Michael Walton (Earth, TX/ Texas Tech/Springlake-Earth H.S.) has been named to the First Team of the 1998 Daktronics, Inc., Division II All-West Region Football Team as selected by the sports information directors of the NCAA Division II institutions. A total of 12 players were named to the All-West Region First Team Defense and 13 players were named to the All-West Region First Team Offense.

His selection to the All-West Region First Team, makes Walton eligible for the Daktornics, Inc., Division II All-America Football Team, which will be released later this month. Walton was named 1998 Lone Star Conference South Division Defensive Player-of-the-Year and was chosen to the 1998 Burger King Division II Coaches’ All-America Team as selected by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Walton led the LSC in tackles for the second consecutive year, recording 117 tackles in 11 games.

He earned 96 tackles to lead the Greyhounds during his freshman season. As a sophomore, he led the LSC with 155 tackles, earned a spot on the All-LSC South Division First Team, was named to the Daktronics, Inc., Division II All-West Region Second Team and received Third Team All-America honors from Football Gazette. This year, he led the ENMU defense to national rankings in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and passing defense. His 117 tackles included 60 solo tackles, 24 tackles for 157 yards in losses and 7.5 sacks for 72 yards lost.

He has 368 career tackles, including 125 solo tackles. He has also made 36 tackles for losses and has forced 8 fumbles. He has started all 33 games during his ENMU career.

Walton helped Eastern’s team reach national prominence over the past three seasons. ENMU was 3-8 in 1996, then went 5-6 in 1997, before achieving an 8-3 record in 1998. The Greyhounds were ranked as high as a tie for 11th in the NCAA Division II Poll this fall, and finished in a tie for third place in the competitive LSC South Division.