NORMAL - Josh Howe doesn't believe he received a legitimate opportunity to prove his worth as an Illinois State linebacker in his first two years on campus.

Howe also realizes that as a walk-on, the only guarantee is the tuition bill.

When first-year Redbird coach Brock Spack arrived, so did Howe's opportunity.

"The coaches were going to let us have a clean slate and start over," Howe said. "Coach Spack talked about being a tough, hard-nosed linebacker. That's what I really worked to do."

After playing sparingly over ISU's first six games, Howe is currently doing that work as the Redbirds' starting middle linebacker.

"Coach Spack and Coach (linebackers coach Jay) Peterson actually gave me a look. They gave me a shot," said Howe. "I just took full advantage of it."

Howe has registered 17 of his 23 tackles the past two games while leading the Redbirds in stops during victories over Indiana State and Missouri State. At 4-4, ISU tries to push its record over .500 on Saturday in a 1 p.m. Family Day contest against Western Illinois at Hancock Stadium.

"It all starts with intensity and effort. The guys who have effort, discipline, intensity and can make a play will be out there," Peterson said. "Josh has come a long way. He's been a soldier all the way through. He has the heart of a lion, great want to. That's about 98 percent of it."

A 6-foot, 225-pound sophomore, Howe played outside linebacker for an injured Austin Davis against Indiana State. When Davis returned for the Missouri State game, Howe was moved inside.

"He's brought some stability there. He's very productive," said Spack. "He gives us some life. He's a pretty good football player, and he's got a good football mind."

Howe, a three-year prep starter at Chicago Heights Marian Catholic, believes he is best suited for middle linebacker.

"I like not being isolated to one side, using my quickness to get side to side and make plays all over the field," he said. "I like to shoot gaps and get downhill really quick as opposed to shuffling over and having someone hit me."

Howe is part of a precocious group of starting linebackers that includes Davis, a redshirt freshman from Normal, and true freshman Mike Zimmer.

"Mike really impresses me a lot. He's really mature for a young guy. He's aggressive, tough, fast, everything you want in an outside linebacker," Howe said. "Austin is the exact same thing. They're not freshmen anymore. They have more experience than I do."

Spack called the trio "our three most athletic linebackers. They give us, we think, our best chance of being successful."