2021 NFL Draft: 5 prospects to watch in Clemson-Wake Forest
Travis Etienne
Clemson running back Travis Etienne is another major headliner in this Saturday night game. Etienne decided to return for his senior season with questions about his game looming and a good class at the top. He has a chance to be the top running back in the 2021 NFL Draft class and it’s easy to see why.
Through three seasons, Etienne has 4,038 rushing yards and 56 touchdowns. Couple that with his career 7.8 yards per rush, a monstrous number.
As a prospect, Etienne has the burst and long speed to take any run to the end zone. He accelerates very quickly in open space and has the requisite agility to make defenders miss. Etienne isn’t often described as a tough runner between the tackles, but he holds his own with good contact balance.
Etienne had question marks surrounding ball security and pass-catching prowess last season, and he quieted some critics with 37 catches during his junior campaign. If he can build on that, and work on his vision and recognition as a runner, he will be dangerous in the NFL.
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BONUS
A couple of other prospects to keep an eye on in this one are Clemson’s Amari Rodgers and Xavier Thomas. Rodgers is a true slot receiver who may be able to carve out a role at the next level. Thomas was once a five-star recruit and hasn’t reached his potential quite yet.