Clemson football nation thanks you, Travis Etienne
There is one special running back in Clemson football history who will never be forgotten.
He was overlooked by the national media and there were plenty of times that even Clemson football fans were quick to take him for granted or minimize the impact that he had on the games in which he played.
We’re talking about Travis Etienne.
Etienne came into Clemson receiving a scholarship offer at the last minute. As a matter of fact, the Tigers knew very little about him until extremely late in the recruiting process.
But it didn’t take long to see that he had the heart of a Tiger.
The run that Travis Etienne had with the Clemson football program is absolutely remarkable
Through his first three seasons with Clemson, Etienne broke all kinds of records- including the all-time rushing record- and he was instrumental in CFB Playoff appearances and a National Championship.
But that wasn’t enough for him.
When Etienne had the opportunity to turn pro- already showing his skill and ability to play at the next level- he chose to return. Even in the face of adversity when we didn’t even know if we’d have a season, Etienne quietly continued to work and never once regretted that decision to return to school, get his degree and play one final season as a Tiger.
He finished his Clemson football career with 4,952 total rushing yards (7.2 YPC), 1,155 receiving yards and 78 total touchdowns.
There were times when Etienne absolutely carried the offense (see Syracuse in 2018 for an example) and he always was able to make a play when it seemed the Tigers needed him most.
He let his play on the field do the talking and his humble nature was absolutely contagious.
Etienne’s career didn’t end as we might’ve hoped, but there’s no doubt he made an impact on the Clemson football program that will last a lifetime. He is leaving this Tiger program better than he found it and, in my opinion, he is the best running back in Clemson history.
Clemson nation thanks you, Travis Etienne. We thank you for all the hard work that you’ve put in. We thank you for being a great ambassador for Clemson and for giving your all every single time you were on the field.
You will never be forgotten and we’re all behind you as you make this next step to the professional level.