"I didn't even know, until I listened to the message, and he told me, 'Jesse, I have good news for you,' " said Mahelona, who was taking a late afternoon nap when Fulmer left the message.

By the time Mahelona had awakened, his parents and family in Kailua, Kona, knew about it.

"Coach Fulmer called them personally," the 2000 Kealakehe graduate said.

It was welcomed news for Mahelona, who lost a friend, Josh Leau, to a car accident Nov. 12 and an uncle to a heart attack recently.

The 6-foot-2, 300-pound Mahelona said he considered returning home "just to play in front of my family," but said the fan support in Tennessee was overwhelming.

JESSE MAHELONA

After speaking with his coaches, pastor and father, Mahelona said, "I realized that you can't control when God's time is for you."

His decision to stay was cemented before the Southeastern Conference championship game against Auburn Saturday. The Vols lost, 38-28.

"Most people don't get to experience this atmosphere," he said.

Mahelona finished with five tackles, including two tackles for a loss of three yards, and two quarterback hurries.

His commitment to Tennessee means he will likely forgo the NFL draft.

"I've been thinking about (the draft) a lot, because a lot of people have been telling me about it," he said. "I want to come back and get my degree and graduate next December."

Mahelona, who had 42 tackles, including five sacks, and seven quarterback hurries this season, was selected to the all-SEC second team Monday, and was slightly miffed he was left off the first team, saying "they juiced me."

"I still wanted to make all-SEC, that was one of my goals after my first year," Mahelona said. "They only picked three linemen on the first team."

But the disappointment was eased with his selection to the All-America team.

"I didn't think I would get All-American my first year. They were telling me, 'All-American, All-American,' and I didn't think it would happen," Mahelona said. "All-American, it's all good, and it looks good on paper, but it doesn't make me better as a player."

Jesse Mahelona amassed 42 tackles, including five sacks, and seven quarterback hurries for Tennessee this season. Advertiser library photo • Aug. 31, 2004

"Now every game I play, everyone is going to expect an All-American game," Mahelona said. "I'm just overwhelmed. The more awards I get, I start to consider the fact that I'm as good as everyone says I am.

"I still don't think I am, I just make plays."

He said he is excited his picture will go up on the school's "Hall of Fame Wall."

"When you walk into the complex, that's all I see," Mahelona said. "It's for the public to see."

He stressed how much his family and friends in Hawai'i contributed to his success.

"I dedicate this award to Hawai'i and my family and friends and all the people who support me back home," Mahelona said. "There are so many people in Hawai'i who supported me."