Limitless: Clemson's ACC Player of the Year still doesn't know his own potential

Travis Etienne stares at the jumbotron in Bank of America Stadium during the ACC Championship trophy presentation after Clemson’s 42-10 victory over Pittsburgh.

Highlights of Clemson’s fourth consecutive ACC title begin to play. Of course, Etienne’s 75-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage, the longest play in the championship game’s history, is the headliner. Many of his teammates begin to yell as they watch No. 9 break free.

“Look it’s Travis! Oh my God,” linebacker Chad Smith says as if he just witnessed Superman flying through the air.

Etienne looks unfazed as the clips roll along. He’s stone-faced. But even he can’t help himself from letting out a sheepish grin as the video shows his second touchdown run of the night on only his second carry.

The video ends and Etienne is holding his trophy for Most Valuable Player, an easy decision after his 156-yard performance on just 12 carries. By this point, he’s smiling from ear to ear, joking with his teammates, and sticking his tongue out as he grabs hold of the ACC trophy for the first time.

During these few moments of celebration, we saw the two different sides of Clemson’s ACC Player of the Year.

On one hand, you have shy, goofy Etienne - the kid from Jennings, La. who loves being around his teammates. He is always humble and will credit his offensive line whenever he’s asked about a particular big run he had. He’ll politely answer every one of our questions with a quick “yes sir” or “no sir” before he gives a genuine thought.

But on the other hand, you have stone-faced, focused Etienne - the player who runs with tenacious balance and violence that will wear you down and break you if he gets an inch of space. This is the Etienne opponents have gotten used to seeing as the sophomore running back has turned into a national superstar since the beginning of his freshman season.

Clemson Sports Talk

Etienne racked up 156 rushing yards on just 12 carries in the ACC Championship Game.

Remember, this is the same player who didn’t touch the ball once in Clemson’s biggest regular season game in 2017 against Auburn. But since then, head coach Dabo Swinney has seen Etienne mature more into the player they know he can be.

“To see him come in here and do what he's done, to be so humble about it, he doesn't really know he's a great player,” Swinney said after the ACC Championship with Etienne sitting right beside him. “He just kind of goes about his business.”

While Etienne watched his highlights from the field in Charlotte, we began to think of the moments that have defined the sophomore’s sensational season. And there have been plenty of them.

His fourth quarter against Syracuse where he saved the day for the Tigers, running for 85 yards in the last three possessions, which added to his career-high 203 yards, three-touchdown performance.

His four consecutive games where he rushed for over 120 yards in each and had nine touchdowns total.

His 20th rushing touchdown of the year, that first play against Pitt, where he became the first Clemson running back ever to reach that milestone in a single season.

Or any of his 22 touchdowns this season, which has already broken C.J. Spiller’s 2009 record for most touchdowns in a single season in Clemson history (21).

Spiller was the main attraction to Clemson’s offense back in those days. So It’s been interesting to watch the rise of Etienne and the way he’s broken that record in the quiet manner only he knows how to do.

But the highlight that defined Etienne’s year came when he struggled.

Etienne entered Clemson’s contest against Duke averaging 107.6 yards per game. But by halftime, he only had four yards on five carries. The normally quiet Etienne voiced his frustrations on Clemson’s sidelines as he was averaging merely 0.8 yards per carry. He also had a false start, which put Clemson behind the chains.

ESPN’s sideline reporter Todd McShay reported that Etienne “was hot” after an offensive series and was yelling on the sidelines. He had gotten frustrated in himself.

Co-offensive coordinator and running back coach Tony Elliott was not on the sidelines when Etienne was showing his emotions, but when he heard about it he lit up like a brand new Christmas tree.

“I don’t get to see that much out of Travis,” Elliott said with a laugh. “That’s good to know because I am trying to push those buttons and get him to be consistent and perform at the highest level possible week-in and week-out.”

Then, the kicker.

Elliott: “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I don’t think he understands how much talent he actually has. He just goes and plays football.”

Sheesh.

“He just goes out and does what he does. And I’m trying to push him to be the best version of himself,” Elliott continued. “He’s making steps, but he’s still a young guy. He’s just a sophomore and he’s still making a transition. To see and know that he cares, that’s what I am looking for as a coach.”

Etienne responded in the second half that night with four carries, 77 yards, and two touchdowns. He flipped the switch and showed Elliott everything he needed to see as the leader of the running back room.

The bottom line is this: Travis Etienne is currently on pace to have the best season a Clemson running back has ever had. Ironically, most coaches on Clemson’s staff believe he’s merely scratching the surface of his true potential.

A part of that is because Clemson’s rushing attack this season has been one of the most productive in the country. Some math: In nine of Clemson’s 13 games, Etienne only got 12 carries while leading the way. He’s averaged 8.3 yards per carry on 176 of Clemson’s 495 attempts.

That means if Clemson’s running the ball, there’s only a 37.8-percent chance Etienne is going to be the one who actually touches it. In comparison, Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor has 280 of his team’s 511 rushes (54.8 percent).

© David Grooms/Clemson Sports Talk

Travis Etienne breaks into the open field against Wake Forest earlier this season.

If Etienne got the ball on 54.8-percent of Clemson’s rushes, he’d have almost 100 more carries right now, 271 to be exact. We don’t know how much more productive he’d be with the less fresh legs he’d have, but it’s hard to fathom and fun to imagine the numbers he could put up if this were the case.

What he’s done with the ball in his hands a limited amount of times this season has profiled him as one of the best running backs in the country. And there’s no denying that. Clemson has its new-age C.J. Spiller on an offense that is one of the most explosive in school history.

While Etienne has burst onto the college football scene, especially this season, it still feels like he’s barely taking off.

We asked Swinney before the ACC Championship what Etienne’s ceiling as a player is, or if he even has one.

“I don't think so. I think he can be as good as he wants to be,” Swinney said. “Just good Lord keep him healthy.

“He does not carry himself in any regard like he's some type of superstar or anything like that. He's very unique that way. He just kind of blends in - except for when you hand him the ball. Then, he stands out.”

When the coaching staff told Etienne he had been named the ACC’s Player of the Year, he couldn’t believe it. Classic Travis. Swinney also said Etienne has a sweet personality and spirit, which you can tell rubs off on the entire team.

Etienne doesn’t have to say much. His actions on the field, the way he cuts or powers through defenders on his way to the end zone, does all the talking for him.

Clemson’s starting running back was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award given to the most outstanding back in the country. But Wisconsin’s Taylor walked away with the trophy.

It’s kind of fitting that Etienne didn’t win the award this year. There’s still much more to the sophomore sensation than what he’s accomplished so far in this historical season. More improvement, mentally and physically, and more potential - even though he may not know it.

But most importantly, more running, which is what he does best.

“He still has a lot more room for growth… I think he'll continue to do that, put the work in,” Swinney added to close out his press conference. “But he's a special player. He's going to play for a long time if he can stay healthy.”

Etienne’s career may see an end before it sees a limit.