Syracuse’s Amba Etta-Tawo named third-team AP All-American

The Associated Press All-America Team was announced today, with rosters revealed for the first-, second- and third-team honors.

Syracuse Orange wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo was a third-team selection along with Northwestern’s Austin Car. Oklahoma’s Dede Westbrook and Western Michigan’s Corey Davis were first-team picks, while East Carolina’s Zay Jones and Washington’s John Ross were on the second team.

First things first, it’s a huge honor for Etta-Tawo to be selected this season. His 94 catches, 1,482 yards and 14 touchdowns were all single-season records for the Orange. The Maryland grad transfer dotted his name all over SU’s career and single-game lists as well.

BUT, given his production and various other honors this postseason (first-team All-ACC, Sporting News second-team All-America, 15th overall in ESPN’s CFBRank), you would’ve thought second-team was a much more likely landing spot. This voter had him on the first-team, but I know I’m a bit biased. Still, Etta-Tawo was fourth in the country in yards (only trailed Jones of these players), fifth in receptions (again, only trailed Jones here) and was seventh in touchdowns (behind Davis, Ross and Westbrook). That sounds like at least second-team honors to me.

No matter what, though, Etta-Tawo made the list -- the first Syracuse football player to do so since Dwight Freeney (2001) and is the 13th Orange player to achieve such an honor.

Congrats, Amba! And thanks for an amazing season.