CFB Hall of Fame | Dana Howard
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois and The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame honored 2018 electee Dana Howard with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, at Saturday's game between the Fighting Illini and Kent State. Howard signed autographs in Grange Grove pregame and was honored on the field during the first quarter. | VIDEO
The NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute program, which began with the inaugural College Football Hall of Fame Class in 1951, has become a hallowed tradition, and to this day the singular events remain the first of numerous activities in each inductee's Hall of Fame experience. During the NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, each inductee returns to his alma mater or college where he coached to accept a Hall of Fame plaque that will remain on permanent display at the institution. The events take place on the field during a home game, and many inductees cite the experience as the ultimate capstone to their careers, providing them one more chance to take the field and hear the crowd roar their name.A two-time First Team All-American, Howard earned unanimous honors as a senior in 1994. The two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year remains Illinois' all-time leading tackler with 595 career stops, which was a Big Ten record at the end of his Fighting Illini tenure.
A four-time All-Big Ten honoree, Howard earned First Team recognition in his last three seasons after making the Second Team as a freshman. The 1994 team captain and two-time team MVP, he led Illinois in tackles all four seasons of his career, and all four marks still rank among the school's top 10 single-season tackling performances. Howard became the first player in school history to earn a major national award when he received 1994 Butkus Award as the best linebacker in the nation.
The East St. Louis, Ill., native owns three of the Illini's top four spots for single-game solo tackles, including the record of 20 that he set against Ohio State during his freshman season. Also ranked third in school history with eight career forced fumbles, Howard helped Illinois to three bowl berths, including a shutout win over East Carolina in the 1994 Liberty Bowl.
A fifth round selection by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1995 NFL Draft, Howard had stints with the St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears. He also played for the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe.
Howard is a member of several foundations in the East St. Louis, Ill., area, including the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation. An avid guest speaker, he also helps organize the City of Champions Football Classic to benefit the East St. Louis school district. Howard currently owns Zoie LLC DBA Dana Howard Construction Company based in Belleville, Ill.
Howard becomes the 12th Fighting Illini player to be inducted, joining Alex Agase (1941-42, 1946), Al Brosky (1950-52), Dick Butkus (1962-64), Chuck Carney (1918-21), J.C. Caroline (1953-54), Jim Grabowski (1963-65), Red Grange (1923-25), Bart Macomber (1914-16), Bernie Shively (1924-26), David Williams (1983-85) and Buddy Young (1944, 1946).
Four former Illinois coaches are also in the Hall: Bob Blackman (1971-76), Ed Hall (1892-93), George Woodruff (1903) and Bob Zuppke (1913-41).
The 2018 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 61st NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
