Another Clemson star is off to the NFL. On Friday, running back Travis Etienne announced on social media he would forgo his extra year of eligibility and join quarterback Trevor Lawrence in declaring for the NFL draft.
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Etienne started the post by thanking God for his four years at Clemson.
“First and foremost, I want to give praise and honor to the most high God for loving me enough to entrust my collegiate education to Clemson University,” he wrote. “My 4 years spent in South Carolina have been nothing short of spectacular.”
Thank you! #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/2IEs9iYMKg
— Travis Etienne Jr⁶𓅓 (@swaggy_t1) January 15, 2021
Etienne compiled 4,952 rushing yards, 1,155 receiving yards and 78 total touchdowns in his college career, one of the finest in history. He is one of just 12 players to post at least 4,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving.
The two-time ACC Player of the Year leaves Clemson as the conference’s all-time leader in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns. He won four ACC championships, reached the College Football Playoff four times and helped lead the Tigers to a national title in 2018. Like all FBS players, he could have returned for another season under the NCAA’s blanket waiver for 2020.
After breaking the FBS record for the most games with a touchdown in Clemson’s victory over Miami in October, Etienne was quick to redirect the praise to Christ.
“Honestly, it will probably take me a while to reflect on that,” he told reporters in a press conference following the game. “It’s just a tremendous accomplishment and I just want to first off thank God. Without Him, I wouldn’t even be here in this situation.”
Etienne collected 96 total yards and scored a touchdown in his final collegiate game, a 49-28 loss to Ohio State in the CFP semifinals. He is projected to be late first-round or early second-round pick.
The Etienne legacy at Clemson might not be over though. Travis’ brother, Trevor, is a four-star recruit in the class of 2022 with offers from Clemson and Alabama among others.
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