NFL LB Explains Why Etienne Is One of His Favorite Players to Tackle
By: Gavin Oliver January 5, 2024

This standout NFL defender says Travis Etienne is one of his favorite players to make a tackle against.

And that’s a compliment for the former Clemson and current Jacksonville Jaguars running back.

Indianapolis Colts sixth-year linebacker Zaire Franklin joined the Up & Adams show with Kay Adams and was asked which players he feels are the most fun to tackle.

Franklin named Etienne, along with Atlanta Falcons star rookie running back Bijan Robinson, as the two he most enjoys bringing down on the field when he can.

“I would honestly say, to be honest, probably Travis Etienne or Bijan,” Franklin said. “Just because those guys are elusive. They’re fast, they’ve got that contact balance, they make people miss in space. So when you get them down in space, it’s just another notch on your jacket. But I like being challenged. Those two guys are obviously dynamic. So, probably those two.”

A seventh-round pick of the Colts in 2018, Franklin played his college ball at Syracuse, where he appeared in all 48 games during his four seasons there (2014-17) and earned All-ACC honors twice (2016-17). He tallied 311 tackles during his time with the Orange and has racked up 431 tackles to this point in his NFL career.

Franklin and Etienne faced off in college in 2017, when Etienne was a freshman and Franklin was a senior, and now they see each other frequently as AFC South opponents.

Franklin has a lot of respect for Etienne, who ran for nearly 5,000 yards in his Clemson career and has already rushed for more than 2,000 yards with the Jaguars since the start of last season, when the 2021 first-round pick saw his first NFL action after missing the 2021 season due to a Lisfranc injury.

“Etienne’s a hell of a player, though. I love playing against him,” Franklin said. “Since college, he’s been a great player. So whenever I get a chance to go after him, I’m always turnt up.”

–Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images