56  Jonathan Soto Class: Senior Hometown: West Covina, Calif. High School: Bishop Amat High Height / Weight: 6-3 / 260 Position: Defensive Lineman Birthdate: 02/13/1987 Experience: 3L

Played in all 12 games the last two campaigns, after redshirting in 2006 ... One of two true freshmen to garner a varsity letter in 2005 ... Only true freshman to record a start in 2005 ... Starter at defensive end as a sophomore in 2007 ... Has started at both end and tackle ... Received the department's Malik Award at the scholar-athlete awards banquet in April for having the highest GPA during the 2008 fall semester.

2008: Two-year starter on the defensive line ... Played both tackle and end, logging 57 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks ... Originally slated to move outside to end, but due to injuries on the defensive line, moved back inside during the first part of the year ... Starter vs. Cal Poly, making a career-best eight stops with 1.5 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss ... Recorded four tackles at Notre Dame and five at San Jose State ... Moved back to defensive end vs. Idaho, logging five tackles, including a sack for a loss of four yards ... Eight stops at TCU, matching his career best ... Started at defensive tackle against Air Force, forcing his second career fumble and adding five tackles ... Five stops in two straight games with UNM and CSU ... Six tackles, playing both defensive end and tackle, at Wyoming ... Two stops at BYU and one assisted tackle vs. Utah ... Ended the season with three tackles against UNLV.

2007: Logged field time in all 12 games, starting seven times, including in the final four ... Tied for second on the team with three sacks and also added 35 tackles and 4.5 TFLs ... Played in his first game since 2005, logging two stops against WSU ... First career sack at ASU for a loss of six yards ... Also tied his career best with five stops versus the Sun Devils ... Second career start and first of the year in the win over PSU, tallying three solo tackles and one for a loss ... Also forced a fumble vs. the Vikings ... Four solo stops against No. 24 Cincinnati ... Second sack of the year, while adding his first career PBU, at CSU ... Seven tackles, including a sack, and a pass break up versus UNM ... Four stops at Air Force ... Three tackles vs. TCU and BYU.

2006: Utilized his redshirt season.

2005: Played in 10 games as the backup at the nose tackle position ... Recorded 11 tackles on the year, with nine solo efforts ... First career start in place of the injured Jonathan Bailes against No. 20 TCU, making a the career- best five tackles ... Made SDSU debut against Air Force, tallying a tackle ... Played six of the last seven games, logging a tackle against San Jose State and Ohio State ... Career-best two stops versus New Mexico.

High School: Attended Bishop Amat High School in La Puente, Calif. ... A member of the all-Serra League on offense as well as defense ... An all-Los Angeles Times selection as well as an all-CIF southern selection as a defensive lineman ... Had 58 tackles and six sacks as a senior ... Was also an all-San Gabriel Valley selection for a Lancers team that went 7-5.

Personal: Born Feb. 13, 1987 ... Son of Ada and Elman Soto ... Majoring in public administration.

SOTO'S CAREER STATISTICS

Career Highs: Tackles: 8 at TCU (10/4/08), vs. Cal Poly (8/30/08); TFL: 2.0 vs. Cal Poly (8/30/08); Sacks: 1.5 vs. Cal Poly (8/30/08); PBU: 1 vs. UNM (10/20/07), at CSU (10/6/07); FF: 1 vs. vs. Air Force (10/11/08), vs. PSU (9/22/07).

SOTO GAME-BY-GAME