Athletic Report
December 15, 1999

MICHAEL WALTON NAMED FIRST TEAM DAKTRONICS DIVISION II ALL-AMERICA
ENMU Standout is Top Vote Getter at Linebacker
PORTALES, NM — Eastern New Mexico University junior middle linebacker Michael Walton (5’10”, 215 lbs., Earth, TX/Texas Tech Univ.) has been chosen to the First Team of the 1999 Daktronics, Inc. Division II All-America Football Team, as selected by a vote of the nation’s NCAA Division II sports information directors.

Walton was the top vote getter at linebacker. A total of four linebackers were named to the First Team, with another four voted to the Second Team.

Last year, he was named to four All-America teams, including the 1998 Daktronics, Inc. Division II All-America Football Team, where he was a Second Team selection. He was one of just 12 athletes named to both the 1998 and 1999 Daktronics teams. The Daktronics All-America selection is the second such award for Walton in 1999.

He was recently named to the 1999 Burger King Division II Coaches’ All-America Team. He was also named to the Burger King Division II Coaches’ All-America Team in 1998. He was the only repeat selection this season. Walton’s other All-America honors from last year were on the A.P. Little All-America Team (Second Team) and the Football Gazette Division II All-America Team (Second Team). The A.P. and Football Gazette All-America teams have not yet been released for 1999.

Walton earned 147 tackles this year, including 89 unassisted tackles, 58 assists, 22 tackles for losses and 7.0 quarterback sacks. He finished his career with 515 total tackles (214 solo, 301 assists). He made 58 career tackles for losses (246 yards lost) and registered 15.0 QB sacks (119 yards lost). Walton was nominated for the Harlon Hill Award, which is the NCAA Division II equivalent to the Heisman Trophy.

He was the Lone Star Conference South Division Defensive Lineman-of-the-Year in 1998 and was named First Team All-LSC South in 1997 and 1998. He was chosen Second Team All-Conference in 1999.

During four seasons at ENMU, Walton started every game and led the team in tackles each year. He recorded 96 tackles to lead the Greyhounds during his freshman season, then led the team and the LSC with 155 tackles as a sophomore. Last year, he provided 117 tackles to lead the conference. This year’s 147 tackles allowed him to move past the 500-tackle mark and become Eastern’s all-time leading tackler.

Walton has also excelled in the classroom. He was named to the LSC All-Academic Team each of his final three seasons (1997, 1998, 1999). He was voted to the GTE Academic All-District First Team this season.

Walton was named to the Daktronics, Inc. Division II All-West Region Team three times. He was a First Team selection in 1998 and 1999, after earning Second Team honors in 1997. Each Daktronics All-America selection was named to an All-Region Team during preliminary voting by sports information directors.

MICHAEL WALTON’S CAREER STATISTICS
515 Career Tackles
58 Career Tackles for Losses
15.0 Career Sacks