Daniel Howard’s been asked plenty of times what makes him such an all-out, relentless football player. Howard’s always ready with the
answer; he’s just not sure how much sense it makes to the listener.

“When I was little, I actually got lucky and had two dads,’’ Howard said, referring to his father, Duane Howard, and his stepfather, Chris Honas. “Both of them pretty much instilled in me everything that I carry over to my college game.

Daniel Howard runs down UND's quarterback Jake Landry at Jones AT&T Stadium Sept. 05 2009.(John A. Bowersmith/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Daniel Howard celebrates during the second half against Texas A&M at Jones AT&T Stadium Oct. 24, 2009. (John A. Bowersmith/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

“My dad, he’s always told me since I was little, ‘What does it take to hustle? Nothing.’ What do I have to do to hustle? I’m going to be tired afterward, but that’s about all it’s going to take from me. I just hustle. That’s the only way you can make plays.’’

This year, enjoying the most playing time in his three seasons at Texas Tech, the senior defensive end has six sacks, helping Tech rank tied for 11th nationally in that category. Two weeks ago, he returned a fumble 82 yards for a touchdown in a win against Nebraska.

The two dads loved that.

“Chris and I were right up there together,’’ Duane Howard said. “Dad and stepdad, with these big ol’ grins on our faces, high-fiving each other.’’

Daniel Howard was 1 year old when his father and his mother, Lori, split up. When Daniel was 6, Chris Honas came into his life. Chris and Lori have been married for 15 years, but Daniel Howard has always kept all his parents close.

It didn’t hurt that they all live in Wichita, Kan., where Daniel went to Bishop Carroll High School. Honas, an industrial engineer, builds Boeing aircraft engines. Duane Howard has worked as a general contractor, as an automobile wholesaler and in computer software for dealerships.

That’s how they make a living.

They helped make a life for Daniel partly by coaching him. Honas coached Daniel from third grade through junior high, and Duane Howard coached Daniel for a couple of years in football and for 10 in baseball.

They imparted consistent messages.

“Play to the whistle,’’ Duane said he told his son. “You don’t have to have the most talent on the planet. If you hustle, you’ll always stick out.’’

The Red Raiders don’t doubt that the teammate they call “D.H.’’ applies it to this day. His style, as he rushes quarterbacks, is reminiscent of a hunting dog flushing quail.

“Daniel’s always been a playmaker for us,’’ Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said recently. “It surprises me more when Daniel does not make a play. He has never not played hard. He goes hard every snap, to exhaustion.’’

Howard is so well-known at Tech for his effort that it might overshadow no small amount of natural talent. At 6-foot-3 and 243 pounds, he ran the 40 in 4.57 seconds this spring. He said he ran in the 4.4s earlier in his career when he weighed less.

Honas said Daniel came by some of it naturally. He said his stepson has always been aggressive and played hard.

“He just had that ability to play like a crazy man,’’ Honas said. “He’s always played that way.’’

In fact, Honas says Howard gives it his all in more than just football.

“He hunts just as hard as he plays football,’’ Honas said. “He’ll go ’til he drops. For a dead bird, he’ll walk 5 miles to get the thing.’’

Howard admits he wasn’t as diligent about schoolwork, which is a reason why he started out at Butler (Kan.) Community College instead of Division I. That was an eye opener.

During the 11/2 years he spent at Butler, Howard’s scholarship covered books and tuition. To help pay his own way for everything else, he took what odd jobs he could find around the town of El Dorado, Kan.

“Like, I’d go bail hay or I’d work out on the farm somewhere,’’ Howard said, “or I’d help with yard work for somebody, just to get by.’’

The Grizzlies went 11-1 during Howard’s last year at Butler and were ranked No. 3, but the time Howard spent there makes him appreciate what he has today.

“You don’t take things for granted when you come from small beginnings,’’ he said. “Just having all the (fans) here, where I had maybe a thousand at my junior college games, if that.’’

A few faces haven’t changed.

Duane Howard has been at every Tech game Daniel has played except for last year’s game at Nevada.

Honas has to miss today’s Tech-Kansas game because his 11-year-old son Will — one of Daniel’s three little brothers — has a youth football Super Bowl this weekend.

But Honas said he and Daniel’s mother, Lori, will be at each of the Red Raiders’ last three regular-season games. Honas said Lori has made six games this year.

That’s the kind of support system Howard has from both sides.

“I couldn’t have been much luckier having Chris as my son’s stepfather,’’ Duane Howard said. “It’s a godsend that it happened the way it happened, because Chris is an excellent person. It’s hard to beat him.’’