Dabo reveals Travis Etienne’s draft grade, why the Clemson star returned to school
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney meets with his underclassmen that have decisions to make in terms of the NFL draft every year between the end of the regular season and the Tigers’ bowl game to get a sense of which way they might be leaning.
Sometimes Swinney’s players are open to hearing his feedback. Other times they already have their minds just about made up.
As Swinney sat down with Clemson star running back Travis Etienne ahead of the Tigers’ Fiesta Bowl matchup against Ohio State last December, he assumed he knew which way the junior was leaning. Swinney was pleasantly surprised to learn he was wrong.
“I knew what his grade was. I knew what the comments were. I said, ‘Tell me what you’re thinking right now before we get into this.’ He said, ‘Honestly?’ I said, ‘Yea.’ He said, ‘I’m thinking about coming back, coach.’ I went, ‘Really?’” Swinney recalled. “I felt like he was probably going to be more, ‘Well, I really want to just see what you’ve got to say before I get into it.’ He really was kind of leaning (towards coming back).”
Swinney suggested to Etienne to wait until Clemson’s season was complete before making a final decision. And just a few days after Clemson’s loss to LSU in the national title game, Etienne called Swinney to inform him that he would be playing his senior season for the Tigers.
“He was pumped up to tell me... Everybody’s motivated by different factors and they have different dynamics in their lives or whatever. It’s really unpredictable that way,” Swinney said. “He’s enjoyed his time. I think that for him, he got a second round grade. For him, if he leaves here as a second rounder next year, he’ll do cartwheels. But he’s got his degree. He feels like he’s a little more ready. He feels complete. I just think leaving early for him, as a second rounder, I think he felt a little incomplete.”
Swinney already had a line of players waiting to wear Etienne’s No. 9 jersey next year, and he was glad to tell them they’ll have to wait another year.
Etienne will enter his senior season with 4,038 career rushing yards and 56 career rushing touchdowns, which is an ACC and school record. The Louisiana native will have a chance to lead Clemson to a sixth straight College Football Playoff berth and a third national title in five years this coming season.
“I think he’s the best back in the country, period. I mean obviously I’m pretty biased when it comes to that, but he’s got a great future ahead of him and excited about the fact that he’s back. He’ll be a great leader. Been awesome already,” Swinney said. “If I was in the draft this year he’d have been my guy if I needed a running back. I know there’s other great running backs out there. He’s pretty special.”
