2020 Rookie Class: An Early Look at Travis Etienne, RB Clemson

Dwight Peebles

Travis Etienne has been one of the most explosive and dynamic players in college football the past two seasons and is one of the top backs in the 2020 NFL Draft. But where does he fit in? He doesn’t have the gaudy rushing numbers and carries of Jonathan Taylor, the overall skillset of D’Andre Swift, or the prolific overall numbers of JK Dobbins. Many have Etienne as the fourth running back in the class, some even lower, despite just coming off a season in which he had over 1,900 total yards and 22 touchdowns for the title-game bound Clemson Tigers.

AS A RECRUIT

Etienne was a four-star recruit out of Jennings High School in Jennings, Louisiana. According to 247Sports, his .9171 composite ranking rated him as the 213th-best overall and 15th-best running back prospect in the 2017 recruiting class.

The 5’10”, 210-pound Etienne received offers from 29 schools – among them Clemson, Oregon, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas A&M, and LSU. The running back visited Oregon, Tennessee, and then Clemson – the school he ultimately committed to.

COLLEGIATE CAREER

Throughout his career, Etienne was consistently one of the most explosive running backs in all of college football.

screen shot 2020 01 13 at 10.59.14

Stats courtesy of sports-reference.com.

Finding the end zone 61 times in 42 games for an average clip of 1.45 scores a game was one of the most impressive stats in his collegiate run. Etienne also averaged 8.13 yards per touch in three seasons and nearly eight yards a carry over 503 carries. He worked on catching the ball more after admitting in the off-season to being nervous with this aspect of his game. He snared 32 balls for 396 yards – catching the ball out of the backfield adds to his value and accentuates his best traits, which will be outlined in his athletic profile below.

Our Devy Team Lead at DLF, Ray Garvin, points out some of the more impressive stats which go beyond the boxscore. Etienne is a speedster and the highlights showcase the explosive ability but he also accumulated 973 yards and 5.4 YPC after contact – displaying contact balance through hits. He also forced 84 missed tackles on 192 carries. On downs in which ten or more yards was needed, Etienne had 85 carries for 777 yards at 9.1 yards per carry and 18 of those carries also garnered a first down.

ATHLETIC PROFILE

Speed is the asset in Etienne’s skillset which shines brightest. Although there isn’t much information in terms of documented testing, an article written on him in Sports Illustrated reported a 4.32-second 40-yard dash speed at a camp in New Orleans after his junior year of high school. Speed is the first thing that pops out when watching the young back. He finds daylight and it looks like he is shot out of a cannon. His acceleration after finding a crease and hitting the open field is ridiculous – it is by far the best in this running back class. Etienne should test very well in Indianapolis at the Scouting Combine as his speed and agility will be among the best across all positions.

The size at 5’10” and 210 is a tad on the slender side but not alarmingly by any means. His speed and power come from a strong lower body and legs. He is an elusive back with speed who surprises with his power. Etienne plants his foot and goes, and his acceleration to top speed is elite. He uses angles well to set up defenders and hence doesn’t get hit squarely and is really difficult to be brought down as he runs through most contact. Etienne has great vision and works through the middle well, loves to hit and most times seems more apt to run over a defender instead of trying to make them miss.

Clemson did not use Etienne as much as some of the other backs in the draft and he saw extensive snaps on run inside and outside. He did add more pass-catching to his resume but his route tree out of the backfield is still somewhat limited. He wasn’t asked to pass block much and has improved but lacks the desire and willingness to want to block.

STRENGTHS

  • Elite acceleration and gets to full speed in a few steps
  • Surprising power for an explosive back and not afraid to run through contact
  • Pass-catching improved and something he has focused on
  • Nose for the end zone
  • Sets up defenders downfield well and doesn’t take direct, big hits
  • Vision to run inside and speed to pop it outside if nowhere to go
  • Only fumbled four times in college – secure with the ball

WEAKNESSES

  • Pass protection is able but the effort needs improvement
  • Runs upright which can limit his power at times – could be stronger even
  • Limited route tree out of the backfield
  • Has improved but still shows he is not as natural at pass-catching
  • Occasionally bounces run outside too soon, needs a bit more patience

DRAFT PROJECTION

If a team falls in love with the big-play ability and the speed of Etienne, he could be a late first-round pick but the likely spot is second round at the earliest. Many teams could use a back like Etienne – imagine a back with his ability to take every touch to the end zone in an offense that takes advantage by creating space. The Chargers could use him as a complement to Austin Ekeler, for possibly the most explosive one-two punch in the game. Tampa Bay and Houston have offenses with potent scoring ability and could use a running back as well. Several other teams employ schemes that could highlight Etienne’s running style.

The second round or third round is the most likely spot for Etienne to find his NFL calling and I am hoping for a team that will let Etienne be the lead back. He is so much fun when he gets the ball in his hands and should hit the ground running and be productive in year one. Some teams might see him better as a second running back and more of a complement to a bigger back like Leonard Fournette or Derrick Henry.

Etienne projects best in a zone-blocking scheme and teams with a need and this scheme are the Atlanta Falcons (if they move on from Devonta Freeman), the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Seattle Seahawks could be an option as well if they decide to move on from Chris Carson and his fumbling issues.

DYNASTY VALUE

The top four running backs will dominate rookie drafts in 2020. Swift, Taylor, Dobbins, and Etienne will go amongst the top six or seven picks in rookie drafts and in superflex, they will likely all be drafted in the top ten. The landing spots for this talented quartet will likely dictate where each is drafted.

In mock drafts I have seen until this point, Etienne is the fourth back picked nearly every time and typically he is taken with the sixth pick in the first round. The three running backs and then the top two wide receivers, CeeDee Lamb and Jerry Jeudy, are the top five nearly every draft I have seen thus far and I expect this trend to continue until the actual NFL draft. Landing spots will play a huge part though because if Etienne lands in a premium spot, he could vault toward the top of rookie drafts.

The long-term value for Etienne is bright. He has the ability to be a lead back in the NFL for many years due to his versatility out of the backfield and his elite acceleration and speed are coveted in today’s game. Landing spot will be critical for his short-term success but if given the chance, he will contribute quickly and be effective from his first snap.

I currently have him ranked personally as my RB16 in dynasty, without taking consideration landing spot and seeing him play a down in the NFL. The upside of Etienne is immense and could vault him quickly into the RB1 stratosphere if he finds the right team and develops a little more as a pass-catcher as well as pass protection. Draft Etienne with confidence in 2020.

dwight peebles
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