MANHEIM, Pa. (EYT) — Clarion University senior defensive end Julian Howsare (Altoona) was named yesterday as one of only eight finalists for the prestigious 2014 Gene Upshaw NCAA Division II “Lineman of the Year” Award, sponsored by the Manheim Touchdown Club.The Award will be voted on by the nation’s NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors. NCAA Division II Football is divided into four Super Regions. Two finalists from each of the four Super Regions advanced to become the 8 finalists for this award. The winner of the award will be announced on Dec. 15 – with the winner guaranteed a spot in the East-West Shrine Game.
“What a great and well-deserved honor for Julian,” said Clarion ninth year head coach Jay Foster. “Anyone who remembers Gene Upshaw knows what a great person he was, a talented hard-working athlete and professional, and what he contributed to college and professional football. I see Julian Howsare as a person who embodies the spirit of Gene Upshaw and feel he is player who would represent the award in a manner befitting its status. He has improved his game every year through hard work and dedication, but he has also became a great leader on and off the field. We are proud to have Julian in our program.”
The 8 finalists are Julian Howsare – Clarion; Darius Allen – CSU-Pueblo; Devin Benton – Southwestern Oklahoma State; Caushaud Lyons – Tusculum; Joe Ray – Lenior-Rhyne; Chris Reed – Minnesota State – Mankato; Cory Tucker – Slippery Rock; Justin Zimmer – Ferris State.
Howsare, a 6-3, 255-pound, senior, defensive end from Altoona, Pa., was named on Nov. 19th as the PSAC-West Defensive “Player of the Year” for the second straight season. Also a First Team PSAC-West choice, a team captain in 2014 and consensus pre-season All-American, Howsare had his third consecutive outstanding season for the Golden Eagles. In 2014 Howsare led Clarion with 86 tackles, 48 solo tackles, 11 sacks for -58 yards, 16 tfl’s for -69 yards, 5 pass break-ups, 3 blocked kicks, 3 fumbles caused, 3 qb hurries and 2 fumble recoveries.
A two-time PSAC-West Defensive “Player of the Week” in 2014, he was honored in Clarion’s 55-16 win over Millersville and in the Eagles 41-35 overtime loss to Kutztown. In the Millersville game Howsare had 10 tackles (5 solo), 2 sacks for -8 yards and recovered a Marauder fumble and returned it 23 yards. Versus Kutztown he had 8 tackles, 6 solo, 2 sacks for -15 yards, blocked a punt, caused a fumble, had 2 qb hurries and 2 broken-up passes in the game.
Other top games this year include 16 tackles and a blocked kick vs Slippery rock; 2 sacks, an interception, 1 fumble caused, 1 break-up and a qb hurry vs Cal; 9 stops, 3 tfl’s, 1 sack and 1 pass break-up vs IUP.
The 2013 PSAC-West “Defensive Player of the Year”, Howsare was a Third Team Football Gazette All-American in 2013. He posted 83 hits, 46 solos, 18 tfl’s (-75 yards), 10 sacks (-58 yards), 4 break-ups, 4 blocked kicks, 2 int’s and 2 fumbles caused in 2013. He was also voted as a D-2.com Honorable Mention All-American, a First Team FB Gazette Super Region 1 and First Team PSAC-West selection.
In 2012 Howsare was also voted as a Third Team FB Gazette All-American, a First Team All-Region and First Team PSAC-West choice. He made 58 stops, 16 tfl’s(-102 yards), 14 sacks (-89 yards), 2 blocked kicks and 3 break-ups in 2012.
In his outstanding career Julian finished with 256 tackles, 57 tfl’s (-270), 39 sacks (-220), 10 blocked kicks, 14 break-ups, 9 fumbles caused, 3 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries in 43 games.
The son of Karyn Stalter and John Howsare, he is a Sports Management major and is a Clarion Scholar Athlete.
CLARION NOTES: Howsare is the first Clarion football player to reach the Final 8 in voting for this award … Julian was named the PSAC-West defensive “Player of the Week” twice in 2013. He earned one of those honors against Kutztown (39-38 ot win) in the season opener when he posted 8 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 tfl’s, and caused a fumble. He also took the honor in Clarion’s 41-2 win over Seton Hill where he had 10 tackles, 1 sack, 3 tfl’s and blocked 2 punts, one of which he recovered in the endzone for a td.
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