CLARION, Pa. – Immediately after the NFL Draft concluded on Saturday night (May 2), Clarion University defensive end Julian Howsare (Altoona) signed a free agent contract with the New York Jets.
“I am really excited to sign with the Jets and can’t wait to get started,” said Howsare. “It has certainly been a long, but rewarding road to this point. All the hard work and sacrifice has paid off and i am very grateful and thankful to everyone who has helped me along the way.”
The Jets are under the guidance of new first year head coach Todd Bowles. Bowles was the defensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals for the last two seasons, the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012 and the interim head coach for the final three games of the 2011 season with the Miami Dolphins after coaching there from 2008-11.
“Congratulations to Julian – we are so proud of him and wish him every success with the Jets,” said first year Clarion head coach Chris Weibel who has been with the Golden Eagles for 11 years and was an All-America qb at Clarion playing between 1993 – 98. “He has been a great leader at Clarion and he deserves this opportunity. We are Clarion proud tonight!”
A D2Football.com First Team All-American and a Second Team Football Gazette A-A choice in 2014, Howsare, a 6-3, 255-pound, defensive end from Altoona, Pa., was named a finalist for both the Cliff Harris Award, and the Gene Upshaw Award at the end of the 2014 season. The Harris award is the top defensive player in Division II, and the Upshaw Award was for the top lineman in Division II.
Also a first team Daktronics and FB Gazette Super Region 1 choice this season, Julian was honored as the PSAC-West Defensive “Player of the Year” in 2014 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, Sports Management graduate and a Clarion Scholar Athlete.
CLARION NOTES: The last NFL Player from Clarion was Reggie Wells, who had a 10-year career as an offensive guard, center and tackle from 2003 – 2012… He was drafted in the 6th round in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals and played with them from 2003 – 2009… He was the Cards Offensive Captain when Arizona played the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl, Feb 1, 2009. He also had stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers and San Diego Chargers. He played in 119 career NFL games and started 93…. Former CU qb Jim Alcorn was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 11th round in 1968 … Former great Alex Sandusky, an NFL All-Pro offensive guard with the Baltimore Colts, was drafted by the Colts in the 16th round in 1954.
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