Howard Named Honorable Mention All-America
for 2004 Season by D2Football.com

PORTALES, N.M. — Eastern New Mexico University senior linebacker Jeff Howard (6’2”, 220 lbs., Portales, NM/Portales HS) has been chosen Honorable Mention All-America by D2Football.com, which covers NCAA Division II football. Earlier this month, Howard was named to the 2004 AFCA Division II Coaches’ All-America Team and was selected for the Associated Press Little All-America Third Team. Howard led ENMU with 115 tackles this season.

Howard was ENMU’s only player named to the D2Football.com All-America Team this season. He was Eastern’s first ever D2Football.com All-America selection since the Web site started in 2001.

Howard helped the Greyhounds achieve a 6-5 overall record in 2004, including a 4-2 record and a third place finish in the Lone Star Conference South Division. It was ENMU’s seventh consecutive winning campaign. Eastern has earned a combined record of 48-27 since 1998, including 26-17 during Howard’s four seasons with the Greyhounds.

The 2004 D2Football.com All-America Team featured First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention selections. A total of 141 players were recognized, with 30 on the First Team, 29 on the Second Team and 82 receiving Honorable Mention. Howard was one of 21 linebackers chosen for All-America status this year, including 13 on the Honorable Mention list.

D2Football.com Honorable Mention All-America

Howard was selected Honorable Mention D2Football.com All-America for the first time. He also was chosen for the first time as an A.P. Little All-America Third Team pick and as a member of the AFCA Division II Coaches All-America Team. He was named Second Team Daktronics Division II All-Southwest Region for the first time, and was selected First Team All-LSC South for the second consecutive year. He concluded his four-year collegiate career with 248 total tackles. He made 133 unassisted tackles to go with 115 assists.

This year, he led the Hounds with 67 unassisted tackles and 48 assists, as he ranked first on the team in total tackles. He registered 9.0 tackles for losses and 4.5 sacks. He also picked off three passes and returned two of the interceptions for touchdowns (48 yards vs. SW Oklahoma and 41 yards vs. Abilene Christian). He ranked first in the LSC and tied for 18th in the nation with 6.1 solo tackles per game. He was fourth in the LSC and tied for 35th in NCAA Division II with 10.5 total tackles per game.

Howard was named First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI for the second year in a row. He also was named to the LSC South All-Academic Team for the second straight year, and earned a spot on the LSC South Commissioner’s Honor Roll for the third consecutive season. He is majoring in Biology (Pre-Medicine) and has a 3.69 cumulative grade point average.

Howard’s 248 career tackles included 29 tackles for losses of 98 yards, and 7.5 quarterback sacks for 48 yards lost. He intercepted four passes, forced four fumbles, recovered four fumbles and broke up three passes. He led the Hounds with 85 total tackles in 2003, as he provided 39 solo tackles and 46 assists. Including his 115 tackles in 2004, Howard registered 200 tackles during his last two seasons at Eastern. He is the son of ENMU Offensive Coordinator Mike Howard.