Aug. 24, 2017
SAN DIEGO -
San Diego State Football has announced the Honor Warriors for the 2017 season. As an Honor Warrior, each individual will be handed the spear from the Aztec Warrior prior to the Aztecs taking the field and will throw it into the ground. They will also be honored midfield prior to team introductions.
Lance Louis will be the first Honor Warrior of the season at the season opener on Sept. 2 against UC Davis. Louis, a tight end who converted to offensive lineman, played for the Aztecs from 2004-08. Louis was the recipient of the Academic Initiative Award and was the Most Improved Offensive Player in 2008 after his transition to right guard. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, and played in 50 career games for the Bears and the Indianapolis Colts.
On Sept. 16 against Stanford, Whip Walton will be the Honor Warrior. Walton was a linebacker and the defensive team captain for the Aztecs in 1977, capping his career by playing in the East-West Shrine Game. Following his career at SDSU, Walton was drafted in the third round of the 1978 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
Brendan Darby is slated as the Honor Warrior for San Diego State's game on Sept. 30 against Northern Illinois. Darby, an offensive tackle with the Aztecs, was the Most Improved Offensive Player in 2000, earned a spot on the All-Mountain West First Team in 2003, and played in the Hula Bowl in 2004. Darby had stints in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers.
For Family Weekend on Oct. 14 against Boise State, Aztec legend Marshall Faulk will be the Honor Warrior. Faulk put up dominating numbers running the ball in three years (1991-93) at SDSU (766 carries, 4589 yards, 57 touchdowns) and was a two-time consensus All-American before becoming the second pick in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Faulk rushed 2,836 times in the NFL for both the Colts and St. Louis Rams, totaling 12,279 yards on the ground and 100 touchdowns. He added 767 receptions out of the backfield for 6,875 yards through the air and 36 more touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl seven times, was a league MVP once, won Super Bowl XXXIV with the Rams in 2000, and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2011. On Dec. 5, Faulk will be inducted into the 2017 College Football Hall of Fame.
When Fresno State comes to town on Oct. 21 for Homecoming Weekend, Jimmy Raye III will be the Honor Warrior. Raye III, who played for the Aztecs from 1988-90, is tied for 21st all-time in receptions at SDSU and had four career 100-yard games, including one 200-yard game. After graduating from SDSU, Raye III played in two games with the Los Angeles Rams in 1991 and then moved to the front office. He has served as the Director of Player Personnel for the San Diego Chargers, Vice President of Football Operations for the Indianapolis Colts and is currently the Vice President of Football Operations/Assistant General Manager for the Houston Texans.
On Nov. 18 against Nevada, Obafemi Ayanbadejo is on tap to be the Honor Warrior. Ayanbadejo, who played fullback for SDSU during the 1995 and 1996 campaigns, was the 1996 WAC Most Improved Player. He had brief stints with the Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears in the NFL and won Super Bowl XXXV with Baltimore in 2001.
For the final game of the regular season and Senior Night on Nov. 24 against New Mexico, Antwan Applewhite is scheduled to be the Honor Warrior. Applewhite was a defensive end on The Mesa from 2004-06, awarded the Prep Player Award in 2003 and named to the MW First Team in 2006. He is tied for 11th in career sacks at SDSU with 17. Through 48 career games in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers and Carolina Panthers, Applewhite recorded 99 tackles and 6.5 sacks.
The Aztecs are coming off an 11-3 season, culminating with a No. 25 ranking in the AP Top 25 poll as well as the Amway Coaches Poll. It is just the second time in program history SDSU has been ranked in the final AP poll (also 1977). In addition to a victory over Wyoming in the MW Championship game, 27-24, the Aztecs defeated Houston in the Las Vegas Bowl, 34-10, to tie a single-season school record and become the first team in program history to have back-to-back 11-win seasons.
Aztec football season tickets, mini plans and single-game tickets are now on sale. Season tickets start at $125, while mini plans start at $90. Fans can purchase tickets at GoAztecs.com, over the phone by calling (619) 283-7378, or by visiting Qualcomm Stadium's Window E Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. PT and 5 p.m. PT.