Travis Etienne’s return to Clemson surprised many — especially his backup
Clemson offensive coordinator and running backs coach Tony Elliott was meeting with junior tailback Lyn-J Dixon in mid-January when the phone rang.
They were speaking about expectations for Dixon in 2020. On the other end of Elliott’s buzzing phone was Tigers star running back Travis Etienne, ready to deliver news to his position coach about his future.
Etienne was given a late first or early second round draft grade. He had been contemplating whether to enter the 2020 NFL Draft or return for his senior season. He called Elliott and informed him that he was coming back to Clemson for one final year.
“It was kind of awkward because I was talking to Lyn-J. And I didn’t know what Travis was going to do,” Elliott said. “(Travis) called me and that’s when he told me right there. I let Lyn-J know and said, ‘You’ve just got to make a decision.’”
The decision Dixon had to make was whether to return to Clemson to again serve as Etienne’s backup, or to transfer in search of a new home.
Dixon was naturally a bit disappointed in Etienne’s choice, according to Elliott.
The Georgia native averaged 7.1 yards per carry in his first two seasons for the Tigers, good for second in school history behind only Etienne, and he proved capable of starting at a Power 5 program. With Etienne returning, Dixon won’t get the chance to start at Clemson this year.
“It was nothing personal to Travis. They’ve got a great relationship. But he was kind of hopeful that Travis was going to move on so that he could naturally step into that (role),” Elliott said. “But we were getting on the same page about what my expectations are for him, where he is as a junior. He’s no longer a sophomore. And how we expect he’s going to conduct himself both on and off the field and really kind of getting on the same page.”
Etienne and Dixon are two of seven running backs on Clemson’s roster who could contribute this season. Senior Darien Rencher appeared in all 15 games last season, while Chez Mellusi and Michel Dukes proved to be valuable backups during their freshman years in 2019.
Highly-rated recruits DeMarkcus Bowman and Kobe Pryor will also be a part of the 2020 team and will arrive this summer ready to compete.
“A lot of those guys came here thinking that, ‘Hey, (Travis is) probably going to transition after three years and I’m going to have an opportunity to compete.’ And Lyn-J was one,” Elliott said. “Lyn-J is a young man that comes from a different background down in Butler, Georgia and is really just trying to figure out life. He’s a guy that is very competitive, wants to play, and he was geared up for his opportunity to naturally step into a role.”
When Dixon left the meeting with Elliott that day, Clemson’s offensive coordinator was unsure if his running back might come back and announce his intentions to transfer.
Instead, he returned ready to work. Even with a crowded backfield, Elliott doesn’t expect any of his backs to transfer.
“I’m really, really proud of him because the easiest thing to do would’ve been to pack up his bags and move on,” Elliott said. “But he decided, ‘You know what? I’m going to step back. I’m going to mature and grow and see it as an opportunity to play with a pro, to learn how to prepare like a pro’ and just really take advantage of his opportunity.
“He’s had a different mindset, a different look in his eye. He’s really ready to go challenge and compete.”
