Aztec defensive end wants birthday victory

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila

It doesn't get any easier this week as they travel to San Diego State to take on the Aztecs and their All-American candidate at defensive end, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.

Gbaja-Biamila, a junior from Crenshaw, Calif., was a first team All-Western Athletic Conference selection a year ago while leading the Aztecs with 12 sacks.

This year he is listed as a preseason All-American with the chance to break the San Diego State career sack record of 26.

"I need 11 more. If it happens, it happens," Gbaja-Biamila said. "It all depends on if the defensive backs do a good job covering. It would be nice to be the career sack leader of San Diego State."

But Gbaja-Biamila said his preseason All-America status is meaningless this season.

"All that means to me is that people recognized what I did last year," he said. "I am not even thinking about the preseason honors because that means nothing. I would prefer to win the award in the postseason."

Aztecs head coach Ted Tollner said Gbaja-Biamila is one of the top players on his defense.

"He's a very good player," Tollner said. "He gives up some weight to the Arizona offensive line, but he's excellent on the ball away and coming toward him. He's one of the key players on our defense."

Gbaja-Biamila is not only going to play a football game tonight, he is also celebrating his 21st birthday and would love to celebrate in style.

"It would be a great birthday gift for me if we win," he said. "But if we just give it our best effort, that will be a great birthday gift also."

No matter the outcome of tonight's game, Gbaja-Biamila has already earned the respect of Arizona head coach Dick Tomey.

"He is the best we have faced so far, better than DeVries," Tomey said. "He is very quick."

Gbaja-Biamila, who out of high school was not recruited by a Pacific 10 Conference team, appreciates the compliment from Tomey.

"It is nice to hear that one of the Pac-10 coaches said that," he said. "It is always nice to get a compliment from a big-time coach."

Gbaja-Biamila attributes not being recruited by a big time conference to his lack of size as a defensive lineman.

"They look for size in the Pac-10, and I was only 196 pounds coming out of high school," he said.

Despite his size, he earned the attention of NFL scouts, accumulating 82 tackles, the most by an Aztec defensive lineman in a decade, to compliment his 12 sacks in 1997.

"I have two more years left and I am going to make them my best. SDSU has been great to me," Gbaja-Biamila said. "If I play the best college football I can, then the NFL will happen, but I just want to let the chips fall where they may."

For now, Gbaja-Biamila is just thinking about winning one game, as the Aztecs are 0-2 after losing to Wisconsin and Southern Cal.

"I want this game bad, I want to beat one of these schools in the big conferences," Gbaja-Biamila said. "I want every game bad but the only difference in this one is it is my birthday."

Dan Rosen can be reached via e-mail at Dan.Rosen@wildcat.arizona.edu.