Howard Named to Daktronics Division II
All-Southwest Region Second Team
Senior Linebacker Recorded 248 Career Tackles at ENMU

PORTALES, N.M. — Eastern New Mexico University senior linebacker Jeff Howard (6’2”, 220 lbs., Portales, NM/Portales HS), has been named to the Second Team of the 2004 Daktronics Division II All-Southwest Region Football Team, as selected by the sports information directors at NCAA Division II colleges and universities. Howard led the Greyhounds in tackles each of the past two seasons, and completed his four-year ENMU career with 248 total tackles.

Overall, 25 players were named to the First Team and 29 were chosen for the Second Team. The First Team selections became eligible for the 2004 Daktronics Division II All-America Football Team.

ENMU completed the 2004 season with a 6-5 overall record, including 4-2 (3rd place) in the Lone Star Conference South Division. It was the Greyhounds’ seventh consecutive winning season. ENMU achieved a combined record of 26-17 during Howard’s career.

Second Team All-West Region

Howard was named to the All-West Region Team for the first time. He was named First Team All-Lone Star Conference twice, following the 2003 and 2004 seasons. This year, he earned a team-high 115 total tackles, and also led the Greyhounds with 67 solo tackles and 48 assists.

He recorded 9.0 tackles for losses and 4.5 quarterback sacks this season. He picked off three passes and returned two of the interceptions for touchdowns (48 yards vs. SW Oklahoma and 41 yards vs. Abilene Christian). He tied for 35th in NCAA Division II and fourth in the LSC with 10.5 tackles per game. He ranked first in the LSC and was tied for 18th in the nation with 6.1 solo tackles per game.

In 2004, Howard was selected First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI for the second straight year. He is majoring in Biology (Pre-Medicine) and has a 3.69 cumulative GPA. He also was named to the LSC South All-Academic Team for the second year in a row, and gained a spot on the LSC South Commissioner’s Honor Roll for the third consecutive season.

During his career, Howard provided the Hounds with 133 solo tackles and 115 assists. He achieved 29 tackles for losses totaling 98 yards, plus 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, then repeated as the team tackling leader in 2004. He is the son of ENMU Offensive Coordinator Mike Howard.