Clemson RB Travis Etienne makes NFL decision

Etienne has won ACC Player of the Year each of the last two seasons.

by TigerNet Staff - Jan 17, 2020, 3:01 PM

Clemson's all-time leading rusher and one of the nation's most dynamic players is returning for his senior season.

Travis Etienne made the call that he's coming back on the initial deadline day for draft-eligible players.

"I have long dreamed of competing at the highest level and getting the chance to compete in the NFL," Etienne said in a social media statement Friday. "But I'm not done dreaming here at Clemson either, which is why I'm announcing that I'll be returning for my senior season. I look forward to earning my degree from this great university and continuing to fight with my brothers on the team to make you proud during the 2020 season."

Etienne became Clemson’s career leading rusher in the national championship (4,038 yards) and has 56 rushing TDs and 62 total scores as a Tiger.

He ranked second nationally in yards per carry last season (7.8), totaling 1,614 yards and 19 rushing TDs and 432 receiving yards and a career-best four TDs receiving. He set the single-season school rushing record in the previous year (1,658).

"I want to thank you for all of the love and support you've shown me over the last three years at Clemson," Etienne said in the statement addressed to 'Clemson Family.' "All year long, I was asked questions about how special it has been to have my name mentioned with some of the great running backs in Clemson history, ACC history and college football history.

"And even to this day, looking back on all we've been able to accomplish with the help of my coaches and teammates, I still can't believe what a ride it has been."

Etienne has won ACC Player of the Year each of the last two seasons. He picked up first-team All-America honors as a sophomore and second-team honors as a junior.

The Jennings, Louisiana native is one of three players in school history to top 5,000 career all-purpose yards (5,122), joining C.J. Spiller (7,588) and Sammy Watkins (5,129).

Pro Football Focus regarded him as the top running back prospect for the 2020 NFL draft, albeit with a second-round grade.

“Etienne sustained the elite rushing grade he had in 2018,” PFF analyzed before Monday’s game, after lauding his improvement as a receiver. “He produced a higher rate of explosive runs and was far better after contact — Etienne averaged 5.2 yards after contact per attempt, which led the FBS and was better than over 100 other running backs’ average yards per attempt in general. Not to mention, he averaged .45 broken tackles per attempt, leading the country.”

Unfinished business... ??#ALLIN pic.twitter.com/VeiDklQTwQ
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) January 17, 2020

Matthew 16:26 “What will it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/r6ZifftnmM
— Travis Etienne Jr??? (@swaggy_t1) January 17, 2020

"I got something to prove..."

Welcome back, 9??. #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/gP2SQx1yLq
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) January 17, 2020

All seriousness.....@swaggy_t1 might go down as the best running-back EVER in college football history with him coming back for his SR campaign. Definitely will be in the discussion. Check the NUMBERS ??
— Darien Rencher (@D_Rench_) January 17, 2020

GRAND FINALE ??

Glad I get to finish this thing out with my BROTHER @swaggy_t1 https://t.co/qzHG0697Wz pic.twitter.com/AN9kWd2k3j
— Darien Rencher (@D_Rench_) January 17, 2020