Jaguars select Travis Etienne 25th, reunited with Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville
While their time at Clemson has come to an end Travis Etienne and Trevor Lawrence will continue to play together as the Jacksonville Jaguars selected the former Tiger running back with the 25th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Etienne a Jennings, LA native joins Lawrence becoming the first QB/RB duo from a single school ever drafted by the same team in the first round of an NFL Draft in the Common Draft era.
NFL.com describes Etienne: “Rampaging, loose-hipped runner who wins with force and speed. Etienne's scheme will create favorable boxes for him to run into at times, but his contact balance and overall will to avoid being tackled has earned plenty of tough yardage. He has average size and runs with long strides and a frenetic pace that hampers his quick-cut control and fluidity at times. However, he has home-run speed in the open field and runs with fury and pop to finish near the goal line. He's a greatly improved pass-catching option but needs to step up consistently in pass protection. His tools for creating yardage stand out during games and that same presence should be on display as a dangerous pro back.”
According to ClemsonTigers.com:
“Completed one of the most prolific careers in Clemson, ACC and college football history across the 2017-20 seasons … rushed 686 times for 4,952 yards with 70 rushing touchdowns and caught 102 passes for 1,155 and eight receiving touchdowns in 1,852 career snaps over 55 games (42 starts) … part of a senior class that helped Clemson to four ACC titles, four College Football Playoff berths, two national championship appearances and a national title, all while becoming the first FBS senior class since 2010 to go undefeated at home (27-0 at Death Valley) … NCAA FBS record holder for most career games scoring a touchdown (46 of his 55 career games), breaking the mark held by San Diego State’s Donnel Pumphrey … ACC career record-holder for rushing yards (4,952), total touchdowns (78), rushing touchdowns (70) and points (468) … became the ACC’s all-time leading rusher in 2020, surpassing a mark held by NC State’s Ted Brown since 1978 … one of only 12 players in FBS history with 4,000 career rushing yards and 1,000 career receiving yards, and his 4,952 rushing yards finished as the second-most by any 1,000-yard career receiver in FBS history … averaged 7.22 yards per carry for his career, a Clemson school record and 11th-best among FBS players (and first among ACC players) in history with at least 300 career rush attempts … exited tied with Travis Prentice (468 from 1996-99) for the seventh-most career points in FBS history … was the sixth FBS player ever to rush for 70 career touchdowns according to official NCAA records … became Clemson’s fifth three-time first-team All-America honoree, joining middle guard William Perry (1982-84), linebacker Anthony Simmons (1995-97), wide receiver Sammy Watkins (2011-13) and defensive lineman Christian Wilkins (2016-18) … back-to-back ACC Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019 who became the first running back to win the award in consecutive years since Mike Voight in 1975-76 … was the first player in school history with multiple 1,500-yard rushing seasons and completed his career as one of only 16 Power Five players since 2000 to reach the 1,500-yard mark in multiple seasons, joining AJ Dillon, Ameer Abdullah, Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, Darren McFadden, Ezekiel Elliott, Jonathan Taylor, Ka’Deem Carey, Kendall Hunter, Lamar Jackson, LaMichael James, Melvin Gordon, Montee Ball, Ray Rice and Steven Jackson … set single-season school records in rushing yards (1,658), yards per carry (8.1), rushing touchdowns (24), total touchdowns (26) and points scored (156) in 2018 … completed college career as one of only two FBS players — and the only running back — since 2000 to average at least 7.0 yards on 100+ carries in three different seasons … recorded 6,894 all-purpose yards, second-most in ACC history behind only College Football Hall of Famer and Clemson legend C.J. Spiller … his 42 career starts were one shy of the school record for a running back (43, James Davis).”
Head Coach Dabo Swinney: “Travis is one of the most explosive, dynamic players that I have ever seen. He is a bigger C.J. Spiller, which is the best way I can describe him based on the guys that I have had experience with. C.J. was probably 199-200 lbs. Travis is just bigger, but he has that same explosiveness. He is dynamic, as far as what he can do in the passing game. He can also return. He has an incredibly humble spirit to him. He is one of the best teammates you can ever have, and he is blue collar. He is just a tough, blue-collar football player. He is an every-down player. He is a first-, second- and third-down guy, and he can change the game any play, any quarter. Any time he touches the ball, he is one of those guys that you’ve got to hold your breath, and I can’t wait to see him at the next level and watch him continue to develop as a complete player.”
Running Backs Coach C.J. Spiller: “They’re getting a tremendous player and a guy that’s going to come in and work hard and he’s also going to be great in the community. He’s a guy that’s going to love playing football, love his teammates, put his team first and do whatever it takes to win. They’re getting a tremendous young man that’s going to be very successful. He’s somebody that comes from a winning program, so he understands what it takes to win at a high level. He’s going to come in and compete each and every day, so he’s going to be a great addition to their team.”