University of Miami Athletics
45

Howard Clark

position

Linebacker

Height

6-1

Weight

224 lbs.

Class

Junior

Hometown

Pennsauken, N.J.

High School

Pennsauken HS

CAREER: Is at the conclusion of a solid career at Miami…has been one of the team’s most versatile and reliable veterans…was the starter at strongside linebacker for part of the season…was the starter at weakside linebacker in 2000, but has played at middle linebacker, as well…started at strongside linebacker in the 2002 Rose Bowl…tremendous athlete with good instincts.

 

2002 (SENIOR): Had 23 tackles (12 unassisted) while playing in 12 games…made one unassisted tackle against Virginia Tech…had one assist at Syracuse…had one unassisted tackle against Tennessee…started at strongside linebacker against Temple and Florida State…made six tackles (three solos) in the win over Florida State…had three tackles (one solo) against Connecticut…has two assists against Temple…made three tackles (two solos) in the win at Florida…had six stops (four solos) in the season opener against Florida A&M.

 

2001 (JUNIOR): Played extensively as a reserve middle and weakside linebacker after starting there in 2000…ranked fourth among UM linebackers with 29 tackles as he played in nine of 11 games… started the season with six tackles in Miami’s 33-7 win at Penn State…had four solo stops in the shutout of Rutgers…also recovered a fumble against Rutgers…had two tackles in the win at Pittsburgh…had three tackles in a 45-3 win over West Virginia, including a quarterback sack…had three stops against Temple… made one tackle at Boston College…had four solo tackles in the 59-0 win over Syracuse…matched his season high with six tackles against Washington…started at strongside linebacker in the Rose Bowl victory over Nebraska, garnering four tackles (three solo).

 

2000 (SOPHOMORE): Registered 60 tackles (22 solos)…productivity improved dramatically as the season progressed as he produced 39 tackles over UM’s final four games…started that four-game run with a 13-tackle performance in Miami’s 41-21 victory over then-No. 2 ranked Virginia Tech…garnered nine tackles in a 35-7 win over Pittsburgh and followed with another nine-tackle outing against Syracuse in a 26-0 victory on national television…had perhaps his best game as a Hurricane with eight tackles and a pass interception in Miami’s 52-6 romp over Boston College…his 64-yard interception return against BC stopped early momentum by the Eagles and sent the Hurricanes on their way…returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown in Miami’s 47-10 win at West Virginia, one of a school-record three defensive touchdowns in that game…registered five tackles (two solos), including two for losses, plus a nine-yard quarterback sack in Miami’s 37-20 win over Florida in the 2001 Nokia Sugar Bowl.

 

1999 (FRESHMAN): Played in all 12 games as a back-up to Dan Morgan at weakside linebacker…recorded 20 tackles on the season including eight solo stops…ranked third among linebackers, behind Dan Morgan and Nate Webster, with two sacks (FAMU, Syracuse)… recorded a season-high five tackles against Virginia Tech…tallied four stops against Florida State.

 

1998 (REDSHIRT): One of 15 members of the 1998 recruiting class to redshirt.

 

HIGH SCHOOL: Pennsauken…a Parade All-American…named to the PrepStar Dream Team…National Recruiting Advisor All-American…selected PrepStar Big East Defensive Most Valuable Player…rated 25th nationally at linebacker in SuperPrep preseason issue…listed in Top 10 among weak-side LBs by the National Recruiting Advisor…unanimous AP All-State selection…ESPN’s #15 linebacker…Tampa Tribune’s #61 national…CBS Sportsline’s Top 100 recruits…Bill Buchalter rated him #79 nationally…regarded as one of the nation’s top three players at his position…had 142 tackles, including 95 solo stops, seven sacks, five fumbles caused, three fumbles recovered and two interceptions as the co-captain during senior campaign…also totaled 750 yards rushing and receiving as a fullback, with seven touchdowns…helped Pennsauken to consecutive conference championships his final two seasons…named to the All-Conference first team by the Courier Post as a senior…was selected as the team’s MVP…began his senior season as a Reebok Preseason All-American…was an offensive lineman in his first two seasons with the varsity team…also lettered in wrestling and track & field… showed his athleticism in track by winning the state shot put title (55-6), finished second in the discus (168-10) and won the district wrestling title with a 24-3 record…coached by Tom Coen.

 

PERSONAL: Born 2/8/80…history major…full name is Howard Junius Clark…played at the same high school as former Hurricane All-American and current UM defensive line coach Greg Mark…selected Miami over Florida State, Nebraska, UCLA, Wisconsin and Penn State…son of William and Carla Shaw.

CLARK’S CAREER BESTS

Total Tackles 13 (Virginia Tech, 2000)
Solo 6 (FSU, 2002; FAMU, 2002; Boston College, 2000)
Assists 9 (Pittsburgh, 2000)
Sacks 1 (Florida A&M, 1999; Syracuse, 1999)

CLARK’S CAREER STATISTICS

    TACKLES FUMBLES
Year G-S TT UT AT TFL QBH Sacks FF FR PBU Int
2002 12-3 23 12 11 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0-0
2001 10-1 29 20 9 1-2 1 0-0 2 0 1 0-0
2000 10-8 60 22 38 2-4 4 0-0 0 0 1 2-93
1999 12-0 20 8 12 2-13 0 2-13 0 0 0 0-0
1998 DID NOT PLAY – Redshirt Season
Totals 44-12 132 62 70 5-19 5 2-13 2 0 2 2-93