Height: | 6-1 |
Weight: | 220 |
Year: | Jr. |
Hometown: | Nashville, Tenn. |
High School: | Pearl Cohn |
Position: | ILB |
Major: | Business Management |
Just now getting past a 2009 ankle injury, Howard is anxious to return to action after missing the 2010 season...was finally back on the field for 2011 spring drills...was among the top defensive players on the Golden Eagle roster in 2009...figured on becoming a headliner in 2010 but had not returned from surgery and he missed the entire year...comes into the 2011 season healthy and hopes to be a major factor in Tech's defensive plans...listed at the "Bull" linebacker spot, he has the potential to work his way back toward the top of the depth chart...two years of experience....playmaker with great athletic ability...can really run and loves to hit...solid player with middle linebacker skills and mentality...agile and mobile player with good strength and technique.
AT TECH (In 2010): Ankle surgery forced Howard
to watch the entire season from the sidelines as a medical
redshirt.
(In 2009): Started eight games at middle linebacker but
battled injuries throughout the season...finished fourth on the
team in total tackles with 57 despite missing a game...also had 4.0
tackles-for-loss and caused a fumble...was averaging nearly 10
tackles per game through the first three games, getting eight
against Pikeville and Kansas State and season-high 11 at Eastern
Kentucky...came back later in the year to record eight stops
against Tennessee State and seven versus Georgia...had a standout
performance at EKU with 11 tackles, three tackles-for-loss and a
fumble forced.
(In 2008): Howard saw action in seven games as a true
freshman at the Bull linebacker position...made 17 total tackles
including two tackles-for-loss...had one quarterback sack...made
four tackles at Louisville in his first collegiate action...had
career-high six tackles in victory over Central Methodist,
including a sack...had five tackles at Murray State.
HIGH SCHOOL: Howard led his Pearl-Cohn High
School team to back-to-back region championships...two-time
All-Metro and two-time Tennessee All-State selection...named the
Region Defensive MVP twice...as a senior he piled up 178 total
tackles with 35 tackles-for-loss, three interceptions and five
fumbles caused...also had nine QB sacks and blocked three
punts...for his career he had 390 total tackles with seven
interceptions, 24 sacks and caused 11 fumbles.
PERSONAL: The son of Howard and Sharon
Griffin...birthdate is February 18, 1990...full name is Howard Lee
Griffin, Jr...majoring in business management.