UTEP linebacker Thomas Howard was picked by Oakland in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft on Saturday in New York.

A Lubbock native, Howard was the sixth selection of the second round, and the 38th overall selection in the draft. He becomes the first Miner player to be chosen in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft since 1973, when quarterback Gary Keithley was the 19th pick of the second round (45th overall pick) by the St. Louis Cardinals.

It also marks the earliest a UTEP player has been taken in the draft since 1969, when defensive back Grady Cavness was the 36th overall selection (10th in the second round) by the Denver Broncos.

The 6-3, 240-pound Howard recorded 296 tackles, 34 tackles for losses (third in school history) and 13 sacks (sixth in school annals) in 48 games for the Miners. He started 39 games at UTEP, earning second team All-Conference honors each of the last two years.

Howard was named UTEP's defensive MVP in 2005 after tallying 85 stops, seven tackles for losses and three sacks. He established personal bests with 118 tackles in 2003, 14 tackles for losses in 2004 and eight sacks in 2004.

He was chosen the preseason defensive player of the year in the state of Texas by Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine entering his senior year -- the first Miner player to receive such an honor on either side of the ball in the 46-year history of the prestigious publication.

A former walk-on defensive back, Howard follows in the footsteps of his father, Thomas Howard Sr., who was tabbed by Kansas City in the 1977 NFL Draft.