Syracuse Football: Was Amba Etta-Tawo Really A One-Year Wonder?

Throughout the NFL Draft process, former Syracuse football star Amba Etta-Tawo, has been labeled a “one-year wonder”. But does the carpet match the drapes?

So as anyone that has ever read my articles recognizes I am a pretty harsh critic. I do however give credit where credit is due.

I also call out injustices wherever I see them, right wrongs and all that (think of me as a modern day keyboard warrior if you will). Anyways I am here to slap the National Football League draft ‘experts’ across the face and call them out for being dumb-asses.

Prior to smacking around Mike Mayock and Mel Kiper I would like to applaud Inside the Loud House’s own Paul A. Esden Jr on his hard hitting interview with Amba following Syracuse’s Pro day on March 20th.

No this has nothing to do with his name, just one writer recognizing the talents of another. Anyways I digress…

The biggest question posed regarding Syracuse’s single season record holder for receptions,

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receiving yards and average yards per game is just silly. Is he a one year wonder?

For the uneducated we are not talking about a singing group we are talking about a football player. One hit wonders do exist in football and many NFL teams have learned that the hard way. But with Amba, we need to do some analysis to show how wrong that is:

Up until 2016 the major component that was holding Amba down was opportunity. When given that during his freshman campaign at Maryland in 2013 he came through when Stefon Diggs and Deon Long went down with injuries catching 31 passes for 500 yards and two touchdowns.
Also unlike our musical reference, football players need time to ‘develop’. The next few years he was buried on the depth chart and he left Maryland with 61 receptions and 938 yards. As a data point admittedly not so spectacular.
In one season at Syracuse he ranks in the top 10 All Time Leaders in: receptions, yards and touchdowns. Oh yeah that is pretty good. Wait for it…I am talking about top 10 for a CAREER! Again for the slow witted out there he played one SEASON.
His season eclipsed Pro Football Hall of Famers Marvin Harrison and Art Monk and not by a little bit. By the way they were both first round picks.
Here is a scary thought for you, he may not have hit his full potential. If he continues to develop, the sky is the limit for this inaugural member of Orange is the New Fast and someday he may be sporting a golden jacket (you heard it here first).
His Pro Day 40 yard dash you ask? A blazing 4.35 seconds. This number puts him in the top-five for the 40 at his position in this year’s draft class.

One year wonder? I could buy that for a player that plays above his ability “a big fish in a small pond” scenario. As the Orange faithful are well aware, Syracuse played one of the toughest schedules in the nation last year. How did he stack up against quality defense’s you ask. Let me tell you:

Notre Dame: 7 receptions 134 yards
Louisville: 8 receptions 103 yards
Clemson: 9 receptions 84 yards

Next: A Conversation With Amba Etta-Tawo Following #CuseProDay

The experts vary on where he will land in April, but in my humble opinion if he does come off the board on the third day of the draft some lucky team is getting a steal and 31 other teams will recognize they let one get away. Amba Etta-Tawo will be playing on Sundays for a long time to come.

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