JJ Howard Class: Graduate Student Hometown: Huger, SC High School: Hanahan Height / Weight: 6-3 / 245 Position: DE Experience: 3VL

J.J. Howard Fact: Only Clemson football player in history to bench press 450 pounds, vertical jump 44 inches, and run a sub 4.5 in the 40.
Fall 2003 Depth Chart Position: Starting defensive end
Years lettered: 2000-02
Bowl Participation: 2000 Gator Bowl against Virginia Tech, the 2001 Humanitarian Bowl against Louisiana Tech, and the 2002 Tangerine Bowl against Texas Tech.

Overview: One of six active Tigers to play in each of the last three bowl games; all his appearances have been as a reserve...athletic defensive end who has improved his tackle total each year...will finally get his chance as a starter this year if he can hold off junior Maurice Fountain...one of the top all-around athletes playing football in many years...the first Clemson football player in history to bench press 450 pounds, vertical jump 44 inches, and run a sub 4.5 in the 40...third on the 2003 team in the bench press and first in the vertical jump...also did 33 reps of 225 pounds, second best on the team...fifth on the team in the power clean (350 pounds) and third in the hang clean (380 pounds)...first on the team in the broad jump at 11’ 2.5”...also has been clocked in the 40 in 4.48 seconds...eighth-strongest player on the team pound-for-pound, but second among players who weigh at least 200 pounds...has played 37 consecutive games; he has never missed a contest, but has never started either...if he plays in 13 games this year, he could become the first Clemson football player (along with Khaleed Vaughn) to play in 50 games...capable of a big play, he had four tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks as a reserve in 2002...played tight end as a freshman and on special teams in every game...has three career sacks, but all have been memorable, as he packs a strong hit...has a brother who will play against him for Georgia in the season opener.

In 2002: Had 34 tackles, 17 first hits and 17 assists...had a season-high six tackles and a tackle for loss in the win over Wake Forest...had a 13-yard sack in the win over Georgia Tech and an 11-yard sack at North Carolina...also had five tackles in both the win over Louisiana Tech and at Florida State...had 27 of his 34 tackles over the first seven games of the season...had 269 snaps for the season, an average of 20.7 per game...had a season-high 27 snaps against both Louisiana Tech and Maryland...played at least 14 snaps in every game. In 2001: Had key sack in the win over Central Florida to open the season...sacked the Central Florida quarterback and caused a fumble at a key juncture of the game...had 16 tackles as a reserve defensive end behind current Denver Bronco Bryant McNeal; he played at least 10 snaps in every game...played a season-high 28 snaps against both North Carolina and Duke...had three tackles (all first hits) at South Carolina...also had two tackles against Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Maryland, and Wake Forest...averaged 18 plays per game...voted most improved defensive end of spring practice 2002...had two sacks in the Spring Game and three tackles overall...it was the second time in his career he had two sacks in the Spring Game.

In 2000: Played tight end and linebacker...earned a letter; he played three games for 21 total plays on offense and then played in the last nine games on special teams only...played seven plays against The Citadel, 11 against Missouri, and five against Wake Forest, all Clemson victories...moved to linebacker after the Wake Forest game...started the spring of 2001 at star safety; he ended up at defensive end...had limited work in the spring, as he was coming back from shoulder surgery that took place in early January.

In 1999: Red-shirted...had two sacks for 19 yards and a 30-yard fumble return for a score in the 2000 Spring Game...moved to tight end in the fall of 1999, then to linebacker...listed as a reserve defensive end behind Nick Eason and Bryant McNeal heading into 2000.

In High School: Had 98 first hits and 24 assists for 122 total tackles as a senior at Hanahan High School...also had 16 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a senior...honorable mention All-American by Southeastern Recruiting Alliance...played in the South Carolina North-South All-Star game...all-state selection as a senior as well as all-region as a junior and senior...his team posted an 11-2 record in his senior season and advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs in both his junior and senior seasons...coached by two former Tigers who were on Clemson’s 1981 National Championship team (Head Coach Jeff Cruce, who lettered in 1983 and 1984, and red-shirted in ‘81; and Defensive Coordinator Randy Learn, who lettered from 1979-82)...lettered twice in basketball; his team was ranked #2 in the state on National Signing Day (2-3-99)...chose Clemson over Georgia Tech, N.C. State, South Carolina, and Wake Forest...born Jerald J. Howard on July 28, 1981...earned his undergraduate degree in human resource development in May of 2003.

Howard 2002 Game-By-Game Stats

Date	Opponent	Plays	Hit	Ast	Tot	TFL	Sacks	QP
8-31	at Georgia 	19	1	1	2
9-7	LOUISIANA TECH	27	2	3	5			1
9-14	GEORGIA TECH	18	2	2	4	2-15	1-13
9-21	BALL STATE	17	1	0	1
10-3	at Florida State	14	2	3	5
10-12	at Virginia	15	1	3	4
10-19	WAKE FOREST	24	4	2	6	1-7		1
10-24	N.C. STATE	21	0	0	0	
11-2	at Duke	22	0	0	0
11-9	at North Carolina	20	2	1	3	1-11	1-11	1
11-16	MARYLAND	27	2	1	3
11-23	SOUTH CAROLINA	21	0	1	1
12-23	Texas Tech	24	0	0	0
Totals		269	17	17	34	4-33	2-24	3

Howard Career Stats

Year	GP-S	Plays	Hit	Ast	Tot	TFL	Sacks	Int	QP	PBU	CF-RF
2000	12-0	21				Played Tight End
2001	12-0	229	6	10	16	1-0	1-0	0-0	5	0	0-0
2002	13-0	269	17	17	34	4-33	2-24	0-0	3	0	0-0
Totals	37-0	519	23	27	50	5-33	3-24	0-0	8	0	0-0

• Favorite NFL team: Buffalo Bills
• Favorite all-time football player: Bruce Smith
• Favorite athlete outside football: Scottie Pippen
• Favorite hobby: Reading
• Favorite food: Oysters
• If I could spend a day with anyone in history it would be: Harriet Tubman (just to thank her for being so brave)
• Person who has had the most influence on my career: My brother
• My most memorable moment in sports: My first collegiate sack
• Current bowl system or change to NCAA playoff?: Bowl system