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Outside Linebacker | Senior | U.T.E.P. Thomas Howard
Height: 6-3 1/4 | Weight: 239 | 40-Time: 4.42
Official Bio
Strengths:
Amazing athlete with rare speed for the position...Has fluid hips and does a tremendous job when dropping into coverage...Has a great burst and closes fast...Terrific in space and makes plays sideline-to-sideline...Big hitter who will light people up...Changes direction well...Is an excellent pass rusher on the blitz...Very productive...Team leader and hard worker with top intangibles.
Weaknesses:
Gets by on his athleticism and lacks great instincts, which are essential for a linebacker...Can do a better job as a tackler...Struggles when taking on bigger blockers...Needs to hit the weights and get stronger...Doesn't react on the field as quickly as you'd like...Still developing and is not yet a finished product.
Notes:
Began his career with the Miners as a walk-on safety...Father was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1977 cousin was a member of the musical group En Vogue...A true workout warrior whose measurables are almost off the charts.
Thomas Howard, OLB, Texas-El Paso
Name: Thomas Howard
College: Texas-El Paso Number: 40
Height: 6-3 Weight: 239
Position: OLB Pos2: ILB
Class/Draft Year: Sr/2006
40 Time: 4.42
Projected Round: 2 Stock:
Rated number 7 out of 144 OLB's 51 / 1737 TOTAL
Combine Results Pro Day Results
Combine Invite: Yes
Height: 6032
Weight: 239
40 Yrd Dash: 4.42
20 Yrd Dash: 2.60
10 Yrd Dash: 1.53
Wonderlic:
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 21
Vertical Jump: 39
Broad Jump: 10'4"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.29
3-Cone Drill: 6.98
Dates: 03/07/06
Height: 6032
Weight: 239
40 Yrd Dash:
20 Yrd Dash:
10 Yrd Dash:
225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump:
Broad Jump:
20 Yrd Shuttle:
3-Cone Drill:
Overview
Howard is an excellent athlete with exceptional speed and quickness for his position. The former strong safety moved into the starting lineup midway through his redshirt freshman season at weak-side linebacker before shifting to the strong side as a junior. He found a home at his new position and quickly developed into one of the most feared pass rushers in the country.
Howard comes from great bloodlines, as his father, Thomas Sr., was only the 10th player in Texas Tech history to earn first-team All-America honors (1976). His father was named to Tech's Hall of Honor and the linebacker went on to a solid career in the National Football League after being chosen in the third round of the 1977 draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. After seven years as a Chief (the last six as a starter), he finished his career with the St. Louis Cardinals (1984-85).
Howard was All-District honorable mention at Estacado High School, adding All-City honors as a senior. He was named the team's Outstanding Defensive Back after registering 100 tackles and two interceptions his senior year as a strong safety. He also lettered in track and was a member of the National Honor Society.
After redshirting and performing on the scout team as a walk-on strong safety in 2001, Howard played in 11 games at weak-side linebacker in 2002. He started four times, recording 31 tackles (23 solos) with two stops for losses and a pass breakup. He also recovered a fumble that he returned 54 yards for a touchdown, but missed most of the SMU game and the entire Louisiana Tech game due to a right ankle sprain. The Sporting News named him to the All-Western Athletic Conference freshman team that year.
The following season, Howard started 11 games at weak-side linebacker. He finished second on the team, collecting a career-high 118 tackles (67 solos) with two sacks and 11.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also returned an interception 56 yards for a touchdown and deflected a pass.
In 2004, Howard shifted to strong-side linebacker under new head coach Mike Price. While he only managed 62 tackles (48 solos), he tied for the team lead and ranked second in the conference with eight sacks (fourth-best season total in school history). He made 14 stops for loss, the ninth-best season total in UTEP history. He also caused three fumbles, recovered two others, intercepted two passes and deflected four others to earn All-WAC second-team recognition.
In 2005, Howard earned All-Conference USA second-team honors. He ranked third on the team with 85 tackles (44 solos) and had three sacks, three quarterback pressures and seven stops for losses. He also recovered a fumble, intercepted a pass and deflected seven others.
In 48 games, Howard started 39 times for the Miners. He recorded 296 tackles (182 solos) with 13 sacks for minus-107 yards and 34.5 stops for losses of 164 yards. His 34.5 TFL rank third on the school's career list. Howard also caused three fumbles and recovered four others. He gained 110 yards with a touchdown on four interception returns and deflected nine passes. He also returned two fumble recoveries for 79 yards and a score.
Analysis
Positives: Has a well-defined frame with room for additional growth...Can readily adjust on the move and has a nose for the plays in front of him...Uses his hands effectively to shed blocks and has the arm strength to leverage and shed in attempts to get to the ball on the corners...Best making tackles on the move, as he utilizes his quickness to get through trash, taking proper angles to shorten the field and get to ball carriers...Can fend off and reroute tight ends and backs with his hand jolt in the short area...Has excellent lateral movement and change of direction agility, staying square and low in his pads to make the tackle...Wraps up and makes sure tackles, showing the functional strength to attack with force...Has the quickness to easily turn out of his backpedal and does a good job of opening his hips to close in pursuit...Does a good job of mirroring receivers on underneath routes and has the acceleration to stay with the pass catcher when going deep...Excellent blitzer who shows explosiveness coming from the back side...Has the balance to stay on his feet and the burst to slip through and avoid blocks...Gets good depth in his pass drops and is developing natural hands to field the ball away from the body's frame...Plays until the whistle and while more explosive than strong, he shows natural pop in contact...Runs through traffic well and is quick to redirect when he overpursues...Plays with true aggression and will not hesitate to face up and take on bigger blockers.
Negatives: Playing his third position at UTEP and is still developing his read-and-diagnose skills, but showed steady improvement throughout the 2004 season...Is relentless in pursuit and very active with his hands in attempts to shed, but lacks bulk and could use more upper body strength to prevent bigger offensive linemen from locking on and pushing him off the ball when working in-line...Is still developing a feel for the passing game, as he tends to spend too much time eyeing the backfield rather than staying with receivers in their routes (has the recovery burst to compensate)...Needs to show more consistency, as he disappears for long stretches on the field...Seemed to be going through the motions late in the 2005 campaign and there were more than several times he throttled down when not involved in the action...Has good pass coverage skills, but was fooled twice in his last two games on bubble screens that resulted in touchdowns.
Howard has steadily developed into an impact-type of player. He has outstanding lateral agility and range, doing a very good job of shortening the field by taking proper angles to the ball. He seems to have found a home at strong-side linebacker, where is able to freelance and attack the ball, rather than operate in run containment like he did in the past. He shows urgency chasing down ball carriers along the corners and has an explosive first step to penetrate the backfield and close on the quarterback as an edge rusher and blitzer.
He shows very good flexibility and knee bend, looking sudden in his moves to redirect. He does a good job of keeping plays in front of him and is active with his hands when trying to reroute tight ends and running backs in the short area. He is used as a nine-tech in under defense and as a stack linebacker in an over defense. Howard plays with his shoulders square when taking on tight ends and works hard with his rip and swim moves to get off blocks.
Howard is effective when asked to skate and shed blocks from a stack-off position, but needs to add more bulk and strength to prevent bigger blockers from locking on and stymieing him when operating through trash. He plays with good body control, balance and agility. He has quick lateral movements in his chase from the back side, but is still developing the recognition skills to pick up reverses. His speed allows him to knife through kick-out blocks and he has developed a good feel to come off and make plays behind the line of scrimmage.
He shows natural feet in his zone drops, but tends to eye the quarterback too much, making him guess at the receiver's route progression. Howard is best when allowed to take angles to the ball. He is quick coming out of the three-point stance as an outside rusher and has the cover skills to mirror the receivers and break on the ball. When the ball is thrown, Howard has the acceleration and burst to recover and redirect to the play. He has the leverage and speed to cut off the outside runner and is a hard hitter who will drive with his legs, extend his arms, wrap and secure.
Howard uses his hands well to jam receivers at the line and has the functional strength and good hand usage to keep blockers off his body. Howard is more of an arm tackler, but will not hesitate to leave his feet in order to make the hit. He shows explosiveness on initial contact and is an all-out hustler with a strong desire to make plays in and out of the box. He performs well on all special teams and has a great work ethic.
Howard is built more for speed, but with additional bulk and strength, he should develop into a fine all-around player. It was hoped that another year of experience at strongside linebacker in 2005 would improve his competitiveness, speed and overall athletic ability, but he seemed to throttle down and disappear the second half of the season. While he had a decent showing at the Senior Bowl, his lack of consistency late in his senior year has to be a big concern.
Career Notes
In 48 games with the Miners, the defensive captain recorded 296 tackles (182 solos) with 13 sacks...40 of his tackles killed opposing scoring drives, coming on third-down plays, and he added three more drive-killing stops on fourth-down plays...His 34.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage are topped only by Gonzalo Floyd (45, 1990-93) and Barron Wortham (43, 1990-93) on the school's career list...Only active Miner to register a touchdown on a fumble recovery...Added another touchdown on an interception return.
2005 Season
All-Conference USA second-team selection...Started every game at strongside outside linebacker...Ranked third on the team with 85 tackles (44 solos)...Had three sacks for minus-21 yards and seven stops for losses of 30 yards...Credited with three quarterback pressures and recovered a fumble...Deflected seven passes and gained 20 yards on an interception return.
2005 Game Analysis
2004 Season
All-Western Athletic Conference first-team pick by The NFL Draft Report, adding second-team honors from the league's media and coaches...Started every game at strongside linebacker...Ranked third on the team with 62 tackles (48 solos)...Second in the WAC with eight sacks for minus-59 yards...Only Melvin Besses (11 in 1979), Tony Tolbert (11 in 1988), Gonzalo Floyd (11 in 1994), Menson Holloway (10.5 in 2000) and Ricky Massey (10 in 1991) registered more sacks in a season for UTEP...Collected 14 stops for losses of 74 yards, the fifth-best mark in the WAC during 2004...His 14 stops rank sixth on the school's single-season list behind Lucien Johnson (17 in 1975), Robert Rodriguez (16 in 2004), Floyd (15 in 1991) and Holloway (15 in 2000)...Caused three fumbles and recovered two others...Gained 34 yards on two interception returns and deflected four passes...19 of his 62 tackles came on third-down plays to kill opposing scoring drives.
2004 Game Analysis
2003 Season
All-Western Athletic Conference second-team pick by The NFL Draft Report...Started 11 games at weakside outside linebacker (first four and final seven games)... Finished second on the team with a career-high 118 tackles (67 solos)...Had two sacks for minus-27 yards and 11.5 stops for losses of 58 yards...Credited with two quarterback pressures and a pass deflection and returned an interception 56 yards for a touchdown... 13 of his 118 tackles came on third-down plays, killing opposing scoring drives.
2003 Game Analysis
2002 Season
Named to The Sporting News' All-Western Athletic Conference Freshman Team...Played in 11 games, starting at weakside outside linebacker vs. Rice, Tulsa, Boise State and Nevada...Sat out the season finale vs. Louisiana Tech and missed most of the SMU game due to a right ankle sprain...Finished 11th on the team with 31 tackles (23 solos)...Had two stops for losses of 5 yards, a pressure and a pass breakup... Returned a fumble recovery 54 yards for a touchdown...Added two third-down tackles that killed scoring drives.
2002 Game Analysis
2001 Season
Redshirted as a freshman, performing on the scout team as a strong safety after joining the team as a walk-on.
Injury Report
2002: Missed most of the SMU game and the entire Louisiana Tech game due to a right ankle sprain.
Agility Tests
Campus: 4.4 in the 40-yard dash (wind-aided)...4.49 in the 40-yard dash (against the wind)...4.33 in the 40-yard dash (indoor track)...363-pound bench press...418-pound squat...286-pound power clean...38.5-inch vertical jump...32 3/4-inch arm length...10 1/4-inch hands...Right-handed...18/20 Wonderlic score.
High School
Attended Estacado (Lubbock, Tex.) High School, playing football for coach Kelly...All-District honorable mention, adding All-City honors as a senior...Named the team's Outstanding Defensive Back after registering 100 tackles and two interceptions his senior year as a strong safety...Also lettered in track and was a member of the National Honor Society.
Personal
Communications major...Son of Percilla and Thomas Howard, Sr...Comes from great bloodlines, as his father was only the 10th player in Texas Tech history to earn first-team All-America honors (1976). His father was named to Tech's Hall of Honor and the linebacker went on to a solid career in the National Football League after being chosen in the third round of the 1977 draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. After seven years as a Chief (the last six as a starter), he finished his career with the old St. Louis Cardinals (1984-85)... Cousin, Terry Ellis, is a member of the musical group En Vogue...Born Thomas Arquis Howard on 7/14/83 in Lubbock, Texas.
Draft Scout Player News
01/27/06 - Senior Bowl Practice - LB Thomas Howard is rawer than DeMeco Ryans in the finer aspects of the position and like Ryans, is also a little too finesse in his approach to taking on blocks, etc. That said, he is a more explosive athlete than Ryans and most other linebackers and is expected to rise up boards if he works out as expected.
01/25/06 - Senior Bowl Practice - LB's DeMeco Ryans and Thomas Howard each showcased the pure speed NFL teams are looking for in today's outside linebackers. Howard's great speed in coverage is almost a negative against the run as he too often tries to run around blocks and ends up taking himself out of the plays as often as he makes the tackle.
12/22/05 - LB Thomas Howard finished with 6 tackles (5 solos) in the GMAC Bowl loss to Toledo.
12/14/05 - PRO POTENTIAL: LB Thomas Howard might not be a big name in college football but opponents and NFL scouts know him because of his combination of size (6-3, 230 pounds), speed and his ability to cover. To improve his stock he must improve his strength and his ability to get rid of blocks and get back in the play. Still, his versatility should help him go in the third or fourth rounds.
09/20/05 - "We love it when the game is on our shoulders. Quentin Demps for president ... for mayor of El Paso." -- UTEP linebacker Thomas Howard after UTEP's 44-41 double overtime victory.
This guy seems like someone that might sneak under the radar. Maybe a slight trade down and get him in the second?
Anyone get to see this guy play? Sounds a little like Ware.
