Etta Etta-Tawo Out for the Year

Oct. 9, 2006

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson freshman defensive lineman Etta Etta-Tawo will not play football the rest of this season. Tests on Etta-Tawo’s heart last week revealed an abnormality that will force him to stop playing football.

Etta-Tawo had played 54 snaps in the first five games, including a season high 18 against Florida Atlantic in the opener. He had two tackles for his 15 snaps against Louisiana Tech. The first game he missed was last Saturday’s victory at Wake Forest.

“The most important issue is obviously Etta Etta-Tawo general health and well being,” said Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden. “Any time you are dealing with the heart you don’t take any chances.

“Etta had been doing very well on the field and in school. We are talking about a young man who had scholarship offers to Stanford, Vanderbilt and Duke. He is an talented young man. We will do everything we can to help him.”

Etta-Tawo was a Max Emfinger All-American at McEachern High School in Powerder Springs, GA. A first-team all-state selection, he played in the Georgia North-South Al-Star game and was named third-team All-South by Countdown to Signing Day.

Etta-Tawo is eighth different Clemson player to miss action this year due to injury of illness. He joins wide receiver Rendrick Taylor and linebacker Anthony Waters as the third Tiger to be lost for the season. Linebacker Tramaine Billie is yet to play in a game this year and will not play against Temple.