SDSU FOOTBALL: Mammoth Jones could plug a gaping hole

Aztecs hope 355-pound JC transfer can aid depleted defensive line

By TOM SHANAHAN - For the North County Times | Wednesday, September 3, 2008 9:14 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- Darias Jones played only a handful of snaps in the second half of San Diego State's season-opening loss to Cal Poly on Saturday, and he finished the game without a single tackle on the stat sheet.

But when attrition forced the 6-foot-4, 355-pounder into the game at left defensive tackle in the third quarter, the field seemed to tip to his side. Cal Poly must have noticed, because the Mustangs ran their next three plays to the opposite side of the field before being forced to punt.

"We think he's going to be able to help us this year, but it's not happening as fast as we'd like," defensive coordinator Bob Elliott said. "He got a late start, and now he's trying to make up for lost time."

Jones, a junior college transfer from Butte College in Northern California, was supposed to provide the Aztecs with a run-stuffer in the middle of the line, but the paperwork required to clear him academically wasn't completed until midway through fall camp.

Then, as is often the case when a mammoth athlete tries to get in shape in a short amount of time, he dinged his shoulder and then his back.

"I don't know if it was the conditioning or the injuries that kept me from playing more; that was the coaches' decision," Jones said. "It doesn't matter, because I'm a team player, but I feel a lot better this week. My body feels a lot better. I want to help this team win."

This week, the Aztecs travel to Notre Dame. Coupled with a rash of injuries on the defensive line, that means the clock is ticking a little louder for San Diego State.

Defensive tackle Avery Williams and defensive end Tony DeMartinis already have been lost for the season, with Williams injured in fall camp and DeMartinis in the first quarter against Cal Poly.

At practice Wednesday, starting tackles Ernie Lawson (ankle) and Sioasi Fifita (knee), backup defensive tackle Jerome Long and backup defensive ends Ryan Williams (concussion) and Eric Ikonne (ankle) were held out.

Their playing status won't be known until later in the week, which means the unit's only healthy starters ---- junior defensive tackle Jonathan Soto and sophomore defensive end B.J. Williams ---- don't know for sure who will line up next to them.

The Aztecs hope they can use Jones more, but they also suddenly have thrust two true freshman ---- J.J. Autele of Punahou School in Honolulu and Dron Moses of Anaheim Esperanza ---- into taking repetitions.

"I feel I've been someone who catches up fast," Jones said. "I want to help this team."

Aztecs add to class

The Aztecs landed their seventh recruit in the Class of 2009 when Nick Tenhaeff, a running back/linebacker from Atascadero High near San Luis Obispo, gave the coaches an oral commitment.

Tenhaeff, a 6-foot-2, 205-pounder, rushed for 1,700 yards and 19 touchdowns last year as one of the top backs in the San Luis Obispo area. The Aztecs recruited him as an outside linebacker.

"I've been a running back, but I have no problem switching to defense," Tenhaeff said. "I've been a defensive player, and always assumed my future in football would be on the defensive side of the ball. I'm really looking forward to getting down to San Diego State. I've been down there a couple of times, and I really like the coaching staff and facilities."