Playing time breakdown: Explosive Etienne fresh going into final stretch

by Brandon Rink - Staff Writer - Mon Nov 25 17:32:17 GMT-04:00 2019

Travis Etienne has told the media in sessions this year that he's focused on team goals and not the awards that could have come with more playing time this season.

With that in mind and coming off of a bye week, the dynamic running back will be fresh with the stakes high in every game going forward.

Etienne, the reigning ACC Player of the Year, was not among the three Doak Walker Award finalists on Monday despite averaging over two yards per carry more (8.73) than the top-6 in rushing yards per game -- Etienne at No. 7 (121.3 YPG). He's averaged 14 carries per game, while those same six -- three being the Walker Award finalists -- have averaging 23 carries a game. The Jennings, Louisiana native has only seen 39 total second-half carries and just four in the fourth quarter.

Etienne averaged just over 12 carries per game at this point last year before totaling 125 yards per game with seven rushing scores over the final four contests of the season.

Against Wake Forest, two true freshmen reached the redshirt limit in linebacker LaVonta Bentley and defensive back Ray Thornton III. The Tigers with time to play and hold that redshirt ability are: DT Tayquon Johnson (3 games played), DE Greg Williams (3), DL Etinosa Reuben (3), TE Jaelyn Lay (3), LB Keith Maguire (3), QB Taisun Phommachanh (3), WR Brannon Spector (2) and P Aidan Swanson (2).

Clemson snaps breakdown: Wake Forest

(Players' snaps assigned positionally by place on the depth chart below; the initial participation report is provided by Clemson and represents all non-special teams snaps; season totals in parentheses; this breakdown notes all depth chart contributors and select scholarship players)

Offense (30)

Quarterback (3): Trevor Lawrence 53 (584), Chase Brice 16 (177), Ben Batson 3 (11).

Running Back (5): Travis Etienne 38 (381), Lyn-J Dixon 20 (218), Chez Mellusi 6 (71), Michel Dukes 4 (65), Darien Rencher 4 (59).

Wide Receiver (9): Tee Higgins 43 (391), Diondre Overton 43 (311), Justyn Ross 31 (390), Frank Ladson Jr. 25 (217), Cornell Powell 22 (176), Joseph Ngata 19 (242), T.J. Chase 13 (148), Will Swinney 11 (121), Amari Rodgers% 3 (269),

Tight end (3): JC Chalk 24 (362), Davis Allen 21 (197), Luke Price 16 (160), .

Offensive Line (10): Tremayne Anchrum 49 (559), Jackson Carman 49 (547), John Simpson 49 (488), Sean Pollard 49 (487), Gage Cervenka 47 (512), Cade Stewart 27 (259), Matt Bockhorst 22 (345), Jordan McFadden 22 (272), Chandler Reeves 18 (186), Will Putnam 18 (174).

Defense (35)

Defensive End (6): Xavier Thomas 24 (255), Logan Rudolph 22 (291), Justin Foster 19 (313), K.J. Henry 17 (257), Justin Mascoll 9 (213), Greg Williams 5 (12).

Defensive Tackle (8): Nyles Pinckney 31 (299), Tyler Davis 26 (331), Jordan Williams 20 (190), Darnell Jefferies 8 (116), Ruke Orhorhoro 9 (73), Xavier Kelly 2 (85), Etinosa Reuben 2 (9), Tayquon Johnson 1 (7).

Linebacker (7): Isaiah Simmons 36 (536), James Skalski 36 (467), Chad Smith 36 (429), Jake Venables 16 (161), Mike Jones Jr. 15 (164), Baylon Spector 13 (237), Kane Patterson 2 (58).

DB (CB/S/NB - 14): A.J. Terrell 31 (508), Derion Kendrick 31 (420), Tanner Muse 25 (403), K’Von Wallace 22 (434), Denzel Johnson 21 (211), Nolan Turner 16 (335), Andrew Booth Jr. 10 (63), Mario Goodrich 9 (165), Sheridan Jones 9 (131), Joseph Charleston 9 (78), Brian Dawkins Jr. 9 (11), Lannden Zanders 8 (98), LeAnthony Williams 3 (76), Jalyn Phillips 2 (40).

Special teams-only: DB Ray Thornton III (3),

Did not play: QB Taisun Phommachanh (43), TE Jaelyn Lay (33), WR Brannon Spector (27), OL Mason Trotter (46), OL Hunter Rayburn (40), OL Kaleb Boateng (18), LB Keith Maguire (7).

True freshmen participation* (tracking for 4-game redshirt rule): DT Tyler Davis (4+), CB Andrew Booth (4+), WR Joseph Ngata (4+), WR Frank Ladson Jr. (4+), TE Davis Allen (4+), LB Kane Patterson (4+), CB Sheridan Jones (4+), RB Chez Mellusi (4+), S Lannden Zanders (4+), DB Jalyn Phillips (4+), S Joseph Charleston (4+), RB Michel Dukes (4+), OL Will Putnam (4+), DL Ruke Orhorhoro (4+), OL Mason Trotter (4), OL Hunter Rayburn (4), OL Kaleb Boateng (4), LB LaVonta Bentley (4), DB Ray Thornton (4), DT Tayquon Johnson (3), DE Greg Williams (3), DL Etinosa Reuben (3), TE Jaelyn Lay (3), LB Keith Maguire (3), QB Taisun Phommachanh (3), WR Brannon Spector (2), P Aidan Swanson (2), LB Bryton Constantin% (0).

* Scholarship

** Non-specialists

% Injured.