SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State football's Jonah Tavai was recently named a second-team Associated Press All-American. It is the fifth All-America team Tavai has made but the first that is recognized by the NCAA.
Tavai has now been named a first-team pick by Pro Football Focus and Bleacher Report, a second-team selection by both the AP and USA Today, and an honorable mention player by College Football Network.
Tavai has 57 tackles (30 solo) this season, including 12.5 tackles for loss (for 65 yards), nine sacks (for 62 yards), a forced fumble and 13 quarterback hurries. According to Pro Football Focus, Tavai has the third-highest pass rush grade in FBS (91.9, min. 300 pass opportunities) and the fifth-highest defensive grade (92.1, min. 450 snaps). Per PFF, he has the second-most quarterback pressures (62) in the country, the fourth-most hurries (40), and tied for the 14th-most QB hits (12). Tavai is also 14th in FBS in sack yards (62), tied for 14th in sacks (9.0) and tied for 16th in sacks per game (0.75).
San Diego State (7-5) will play Middle Tennessee (7-5) in the 2022 EasyPost Hawai`i Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 24 at 3 p.m. HST (5 p.m. PST). The Aztecs are in a bowl game for the 12th time in the last 13 seasons after withdrawing from consideration in the shortened 2020 COVID season.
2022 Aztec All-Americans
Jack Browning, Sr., Punter/Kicker
Pro Football Focus (second team) (P)
College Football Network (honorable mention) (P)
Jonah Tavai, Sr., Defensive End
Pro Football Focus (first team)
Bleacher Report (first team)
*Associated Press (second team)
USA Today (second team)
College Football Network (honorable mention)
*recognized by NCAA for consensus and unanimous College Football All-America Team
Jonah Tavai Named a Second-Team AP All-American
