SDSU walk-on making name for himself this season

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2000 | 10:16 a.m.

You won't find junior linebacker Jomar Butler in the San Diego State media guide but you can easily find his name among the Mountain West Conference defensive statistics this week.

That's because the 5-11, 205-pounder, who didn't play college football last year, is at the very top of the MWC tackle list with 107, including 19 in San Diego State's 45-24 loss at Air Force last week.

Not bad for someone who had to walk on last summer to earn his scholarship back after an injury-plagued freshman campaign.

"It's a great credit to him," San Diego State coach Ted Tollner said. "He had eliminated himself from our program for a variety of reasons. He had some academic problems. He had some health problems that frustrated him. He was not in our program last year. But he came back in the summer and got back involved. He didn't ask for anything but an opportunity."

Tollner said Butler actually paid his own way upon his return before being given his scholarship back after sparkling on and off the field.

"He doesn't have a lot of help at home financially, so it was a remarkable thing that he did," Tollner said. "He's just blossomed into an exemplary person for us. He fought adversity and now he feels real good about himself. It's what college football is all about. It's a great story."

Butler has averaged 14 tackles per game in his last seven contests. He'll find himself reunited on the field Saturday afternoon at Qualcomm Stadium with an old San Pedro (Calif.) High School teammate, UNLV reserve offensive lineman Dominic Furio.

Furio and Butler played on a Pirates squad that won the LA City title in 1996 and also included current New Mexico starting tailback Holmon Wiggins.

"(Butler) was a senior and I was a sophomore who got called up to the team for the playoffs," Furio said. "He played fullback and linebacker for us. I went against him every day in practice. I'm sure we'll meet up a few times during the game on Saturday. I can't wait to see him. I'm happy things have worked out for him down there."

Senior running back Jeremi Rudolph, senior wide receiver Nate Turner and senior offensive tackle John Greer were all picked on offense while junior cornerback Kevin Thomas was selected on defense.

The publication picked Air Force quarterback Mike Thiessen as its player of the year. Only 24 players were chosen to the squad.

The coaches and media all-MWC teams will be announced next week.

"I feel good," Thomas said. "(UNLV head coach John Robinson) even called a couple of runs for me today and I ran the ball pretty good. My drops are faster. That week off and all that treatment have paid off ... finally.

"I'd say I'm probably about 95 percent right now. I think the last part will probably be more mental, realizing that I'm probably going to feel some pain down there but to just proceed."