2020 NFL Draft: Travis Etienne must improve receiving ability

If Clemson running back Travis Etienne is going to be a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, he simply must improve in the passing game.

Assuming everybody who is expected to declares, the 2020 NFL Draft is going to be absolutely loaded at the running back position. Guys like D’Andre Swift, Jonathan Taylor and Cam Akers all have exciting upside and are potential first-round picks. There will also likely be tremendous depth in the class, allowing teams to find backs who can contribute in the middle rounds.

With all of the talent at the running back position expected to be in the 2020 NFL Draft, it is going to be difficult for one individual to stand out. That being said, Travis Etienne has the ability to do just that.

Etienne was a solid contributor as a true freshman at Clemson in 2017, but he absolutely exploded onto the scene during their National Championship 2018 season. As a sophomore, Etienne piled up 1,658 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground on 204 carries. His 8.1 yards per carry average were the fourth-most in FBS College Football.

Simply put, Etienne is an absolute stud with the ball in his hands. He is a smart and patient runner who waits for his blocks before making a move and has good quickness in small spaces. Etienne also has elite burst through the hole and is electric in open space. Simply put, Etienne kicks it into high gear quickly and has incredible natural speed in the open field. This guy can take it to the house from anywhere on the field.

Assuming he declares, Etienne is going to be an exciting prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft. That being said, he has one glaring weakness in his game that simply must improve in order for him to be a high-end first-round pick.

The Clemson product is not much of a pass-catcher. Through two seasons at Clemson (28 games), Etienne only has 17 career receptions for 135 yards and two touchdowns. He is not asked to do much as a receiver, commonly staying in to block on passing downs are simply jogging out to the flat.

He has shown very little as a route runner at Clemson and does not catch the ball particularly well. At this point in his career, Etienne brings essentially nothing to the game as a receiver out of the backfield.

Etienne admitted that he feels nervous when catching the ball, as pointed out by Greg Brandt of Devy Watch.

"“I don’t know, I feel like I feel nervous I guess,” Etienne said. “Cause the ball is coming, and I always feel like the defender is right there, so I run before I catch the ball and get spooked by my surroundings.”"

Yikes. That is not exactly what you want to hear from a player who you are considering taking in the NFL draft. Etienne is an exciting talent, but if he is going to reach his true upside at the next level, he simply must become more of an asset in the passing game.

The passing game is more important in the NFL than ever before. Guys like Todd Gurley, Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey have been incredibly important and productive to their teams because of their ability to make an impact on the ground and as a receiver.

Simply put, teams want a guy who can give them both. If Etienne cannot provide any value in the passing game, I highly doubt that NFL teams are going to want to invest a first-round pick in him. This upcoming season is extremely important for Etienne. If he cannot show significant improvement as a receiver, he will likely be disappointed on draft night.