Clemson Football: Travis Etienne as a receiver turning heads in the NFL

The Clemson football star is turning even more heads

Just a couple of years ago, Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney considered Travis Etienne to be a liability coming out of the backfield to catch passes. Now, he’s one of the Tigers’ most lethal threats.

When Travis Etienne announced that he’d be coming back to school for one final season, Clemson football fans across the nation rejoiced but no one could’ve expected how his game would evolve during the 2020 season.

Yes, Etienne is still the same prolific rusher of the football that he has always been. But, now we’re seeing a different side of Etienne that has NFL scouts turning their heads: He’s become a legitimate receiving threat.

Etienne continues to become even more versatile in the Clemson football offense

Through the first five games of the season, Etienne has caught 19 passes for 274 yards and a touchdown. What’s even more impressive? Etienne leads the nation in yards after contact, which plays into what makes him such a dangerous threat in the passing game.

We already knew how good Etienne was running the football, but he now has shaped every area of his game becoming one of the most versatile players in the nation. He’s a threat when he runs the ball. He’s a threat in the screen game. He’s not a liability in pass-protection. He’s able to run routes, get open and Trevor Lawrence trusts that he’ll make the catch.

It’s not to say that Etienne still can’t improve in some areas, but the fact of the matter stays the same: When you’ve got a playmaker of Etienne’s caliber coming out of the backfield and he is confident in his abilities to hurt you in both the running and passing game, it’s tough to stop.

There’s no doubt that Clemson football found a gem when Etienne committed and he has continued to prove himself to be one of the best to ever put on the orange and white. NFL scouts are taking notice of that fact, as well.