Steve Ishmael named ACC Receiver of the Week
Paul Schlesinger | Asst. Photo Editor
Syracuse senior wide receiver Steve Ishmael was named Atlantic Coast Conference Receiver of the Week, the conference announced Monday afternoon. Ishmael, who was also named first-team All ACC on Monday, set a pair of program records and exploded for a career-high 187 receiving yards Saturday afternoon in the final game of his college career.
In the Orange’s (4-8, 2-6 Atlantic Coast) 42-14 loss to Boston College, (7-5, 4-4), Ishmael made his 38th and final career start. He surpassed Amba Etta-Tawo’s single-season receptions record of 94, which Etta-Tawo set a year ago in a rout at Clemson. Then, on the final touchdown catch of his career, Ishmael broke Marvin Harrison’s career receiving yards record (2,728).
Ishmael idolized Harrison as a kid, choosing to wear No. 8 because Harrison did. In his final game, he broke his idol’s record and finished with 11 catches.
Ishmael said last year was disappointing in that he did not pose enough of a threat alongside Etta-Tawo. He spoke with the former SU receiver over the summer, which gave him motivation headed into 2017. On Saturday, Ishmael’s parents visited the Carrier Dome to see him play for the first time in Syracuse.
“It meant a lot,” Ishmael said after the game. “Just knowing they were in there in the stands gave me motivation. My last game, them getting a chance to really see me play. They got a chance to see me finish out the right way.”
The senior is tied with SMU’s Trey Quinn for the national lead in receptions per game and he ranks second in the country in overall catches. He ranks third nationally in both receiving yards (1,347) and receiving yards per game (112.3). Ishmael is a projected fifth or sixth round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, per NFLDraftscout.com.
Published on November 27, 2017 at 1:20 pm
Contact Matthew: mguti100@syr.edu | @MatthewGut21