Former Clemson RB Has a New Home

A former Clemson running back is leaving his NFL home from the last five seasons.

Travis Etienne, Clemson’s and the ACC’s all-time leading rusher, is leaving Jacksonville, Fla., to return home to his native of Louisiana. According to reports, Etienne has signed with the New Orleans Saints.

Etienne reportedly signed a 4-year, 52-million deal.

In his five seasons in Jacksonville, including four healthy years, he rushed for 3,798 yards and scored 25 TDs. He also hauled in 138 passes for 1,338 yards and 7 TDs.

At Clemson, Etienne ran for 4,952 yards with 70 rushing touchdowns and caught 102 passes for 1,155 yards and eight receiving touchdowns in over 55 games (42 starts). He was also part of a senior class that helped Clemson to four ACC titles, four College Football Playoff berths, two national championship appearances and a national title, all while becoming the first FBS senior class since 2010 to go undefeated at home (27-0 at Death Valley).

Etienne is the NCAA FBS record holder for most career games scoring a touchdown (46 of his 55 career games), breaking the mark held by San Diego State’s Donnel Pumphrey. He is also the ACC career record-holder for rushing yards (4,952), total touchdowns (78), rushing touchdowns (70) and points (468).

The former All-American became the ACC’s all-time leading rusher in 2020, surpassing a mark held by NC State’s Ted Brown since 1978. He is one of only 12 players in FBS history with 4,000 career rushing yards and 1,000 career receiving yards, and his 4,952 rushing yards finished as the second-most by any 1,000-yard career receiver in FBS history.

Etienne was picked No. 25 overall in the first round by the Jaguars in the 2021 NFL Draft.