Athletic Report
December 30, 1999

MICHAEL WALTON SELECTED FOR A.P. LITTLE ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
PORTALES, NM — The honors continue to pile on to Eastern New Mexico University junior middle linebacker Michael Walton (5’10”, 215 lbs., Earth, TX/Texas Tech Univ.) as he has been chosen to the First Team of the 1999 Associated Press Little All-America Football Team. Walton was one of four linebackers — and one of 13 defensive players overall — named to the First Team.

The A.P. Little All-America selection makes Walton a consensus All-America choice this year. He was previously chosen First Team All-America on the 1999 Burger King Division II Coaches’ All-America Team, the 1999 Daktronics, Inc. Division II All-America Football Team and the 1999 Football Gazette Division II All-America Football Team. He was also named to four All-America teams last year, including a Second Team spot on the A.P. Little All-America Team.

Walton’s other All-America honors in 1998 were on the Burger King Division II Coaches’ All-America Team (First Team), the Daktronics, Inc. Division II All-America Football Team (Second Team) and the Football Gazette Division II All-America Team (Second Team). Walton, a high school star at Springlake-Earth High School, originally attended Texas Tech University, where he did not play football. He joined Eastern New Mexico for the 1996 season, and led the Greyhounds in tackles four consecutive seasons.

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 recorded 96 tackles to lead the Greyhounds during his freshman season, then topped ENMU and the LSC with 155 tackles as a sophomore. Last year, he repeated as the LSC’s top tackler, registering 117 total tackles.

This year, he earned 147 tackles, including 89 unassisted tackles, 58 assists, 22 tackles for losses and 7.0 quarterback sacks. He moved past the 500-tackle mark, and become Eastern’s all-time leading tackler. 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. He started every game during all four seasons with the Greyhounds.

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.