Posted: Dec 16, 2016

Obi Etuka Named Honorable Mention All-American by D3football.com

Middletown, Conn. native also garnered AFCA All-America accolades earlier this week

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (December 16, 2016) – Senior cornerback Obi Etuka (Middletown, Conn.) of the Western New England University football team has been named an Honorable Mention All-American by D3football.com, it was announced this evening.

Etuka earns his second All-America honor of the week after being recognized by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) on Monday with his selection to the AFCA Division III All-America second team. The Middletown, Conn. native is the second Golden Bear to garner All-America status from D3football.com after Michael Graham '13 was named to the third team as a return specialist in 2011, and he is the first player in program history to be honored by both organizations.

Etuka's second All-America selection is the latest in a long list of awards for the senior this season, who was named to the All-New England Football Conference (NEFC) First Team, the New England Football Writers Division II/Division III All-New England Team, and the D3football.com All-East Region Team.

The senior recorded 42 tackles (2.5 for loss), 12 pass breakups and six interceptions in 2016 as the Golden Bears posted their second consecutive undefeated regular season and captured the program's first ever NCAA Tournament victory.

He became Western New England's all-time interceptions leader with his two-pick performance in the Golden Bears' 37-0 shutout of MIT on October 15, and he registered interceptions in the team's final two regular season contests as well as its NCAA triumph over Husson on November 19. His career statistics include 143 tackles (6.5 for loss), two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 36 pass breakups and 21 interceptions in 43 games.

The Golden Bears finished the 2016 campaign with an 11-1 record and claimed their second straight NEFC title.