Ernie Lawson Class: Junior Hometown: Vallejo, Calif. High School: St. Patrick-St. Vincent High Height / Weight: 6-3 / 270 Position: Defensive Lineman Birthdate: 09/27/1988 Experience: 2L

SDSU's opening game starter on the defensive line in 2008, who battled through injuries and illness ... Backup at defensive tackle in 2007 ... Redshirted in 2006 ... SDSU scholar-athlete in 2007 and 2008.

2008: Played in six contests, starting five times ... First career start at defensive tackle in the opener, but did not have a tackle ... Played on an injured ankle against Notre Dame, managing two stops with one behind the line of scrimmage ... Three assisted tackles with one for loss at San Jose State ... Missed three games due to illness, before returning at New Mexico, making an assisted tackle for a loss of one yards ... Injured his ankle against the Lobos, causing him to miss the CSU, Wyoming and BYU contests ... Returned against Utah, making two solo tackles ... Had a sack for a loss of seven yards in the win over UNLV.

2007: Tabbed the team's most inspirational player ... Appeared in all 12 outings, posting the first 17 tackles and two pass breakups of his career ... One stop against WSU, PSU, CSU and New Mexico ... Career-high four tackles at Utah ... First career PBUs against UNM and Portland St. ... One solo at UNLV ... Tied career-high with four tackles at Air Force ... Two stops vs. TCU and BYU.

2006: Missed entire season due to injury.

High School: Played both the defensive and offensive line for St. Patrick-St. Vincent High, garnering league defensive player-of-the-year honors as a senior ... All-region defensive pick by the Times Herald his final season ... Team's most inspirational and defensive lineman of the year in 2005 ... As a senior, he had 68 solo stops, 15 tackles for loss and five sacks ... Recorded 41 solo tackles and added seven tackles for loss and three sacks as a junior to earn second-team all-conference accolades.

Personal: Born Sept. 27, 1988, in San Mateo, Calif. ... Son of Albert and Belinda Lawson ... Also looked at San Jose State during the recruiting process ... Is an exercise and nutritional sciences major.

LAWSON'S CAREER STATISTICS

Career Highs: Tackles: 4 at Air Force (11/17/07), at Utah (10/13/07); TFLs: 1.0 vs. UNLV (11/22/08), at Notre Dame (9/6/08); Sacks: 1.0 vs. UNLV (11/22/08).