Each year, the NFL’s ranking of its top 100 players is unveiled – a prestigious honor for the players on it, as it’s voted on by NFL players themselves.

Former Clemson star Travis Etienne made the “Top 100 Players of 2026” list, which is gradually being released on weekdays throughout the summer. This week, Etienne checked in as the No. 96 player in the NFL.

After spending the first five years of his pro career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Etienne — Clemson’s and the ACC’s all-time leading rusher — left Jacksonville to return home to his native of Louisiana on a four-year, $52 million deal with the New Orleans Saints.

“Travis is a Swiss Army knife. He’s kind of under-assuming, like you don’t expect him to be that fast. You don’t expect him to be that quick,” Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead said.

“He’s elusive. He’s hard to bring down. I would say that for sure. And he just runs hard,” Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter added.

The 2025 campaign marked the final year of Etienne’s rookie contract, with Etienne playing on his fifth-year option after being selected by the Jaguars with the 25th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Last season, Etienne surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for the third time in his four active seasons after missing his entire 2021 rookie campaign due to a season-ending Lisfranc injury he suffered in that preseason. He ran for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns on 260 carries in 2025, while also catching 36 passes for 292 yards and a career-high six receiving scores.

The 27-year-old Etienne ranked 11th in the NFL in rushing yards this past season and 17th in the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,399. He accounted for a career-high 13 total touchdowns.

“Unfortunately for the Jaguars, Etienne’s NFL Top 100 debut comes in recognition of his final campaign with Jacksonville,” NFL.com’s Grant Gordon wrote. “Havingsigned this offseason with the Saints, Etienne’s final year with the Jaguars saw him aid mightily in the team’s ascent to an AFC South championship as he posted a career-best 13 scrimmage touchdowns, buoying the NFL’s No. 6 scoring offense. Tallying 116 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in his final game with the Jags — a heartbreaking playoff loss to the Bills — Etienne exits Duval on a high and enters NOLA with high expectations.”

Overall, in 66 career NFL games from 2022-25, Etienne has rushed for 3,798 yards and 25 touchdowns on 897 carries while also catching 168 passes for 1,338 yards and seven more scores.

“As a running back, he improves each and every year, and you can just see it on film,” Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter said.

Second-year Saints head coach Kellen Moore is high on Etienne and excited about having him on the team.

“Huge fan of this guy going back to Clemson,” Moore said during a press conference on March 12. “Following his career in Jacksonville – his vision, his speed, obviously, to make some home run plays, and then his ability to make plays. Fired up to have him.”