Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliot let Jaguars fans know just how lucky they are to have Travis Etienne in the locker room again for the foreseeable future.
Elliot spoke to Jaguars.com’s John Oehser last week about Etienne’s future in Jacksonville as first round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Travis Etienne proved an exceptional running back at Clemson and showcased his versatility in his last two seasons as a dynamic playmaker outside the backfield. But the biggest point of consideration for Elliot is that he has not reached he still has room to improve.
“What makes Travis special is he really doesn’t fully comprehend how good he is,” Tony Elliott told jaguars.com last week. “It keeps him humble; it keeps him working. I’m amazed at some of the things he’s able to do on a football field. I can see the potential he still has ahead of him.”
Elliot highlighted the ability of the No. 25 overall pick to remain coachable and show a willingness to improve on his weaknesses.
In Jennings, La. as a high school running back in a ground and pound system, Etienne entered Clemson with raw explosive potential as a rusher but had essentially no experience as a pass catcher.
But Etienne improved drastically as a pass catcher from his sophomore to junior season.
Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer recognized the improvement and versatility of Etienne which explains why the team drafted another running back.
“He’s much more than a running back,” Jaguars Head Coach Urban Meyer said. “He’s a guy that had a lot of production in the pass game at Clemson. He has excellent hands and he’ll be a guy that we dual train. Those guys are hard to find, but if you find one, we know how to use them. With him I expect an instant impact.”
For Elliot the biggest difference in Etienne’s play over his last two seasons is that the moment isn’t two big for him.
“He’s to the point that he understands big picture,” Etienne said. “That allows him to slow the game down.”
Get your Trevor Lawrence or Travis Etienne Jacksonville jersey from Fanatics right here!
