2020 NFL Draft: Travis Etienne ‘nervous’ catching the football
Travis Etienne is unquestionably one of the best runners in college football but the Clemson Tiger’s approaching to receiving is a concerning one.
Travis Etienne is seen as one of the likely top running back prospects in the 2020 draft, but his standing among NFL teams could be affected if he does not alter his approach to catching the football.
Etienne has proven himself be a fantastic runner in two seasons with the National Champion Clemson Tigers, showcasing burst and elusiveness and the power to punch the ball in as he has racked up 2,424 yards and 37 rushing touchdowns in his collegiate career.
However, he has not delivered consistently as a receiver, catching just 17 passes for 135 yards and two scores. A possible reason for his lack of production in the passing game recently surfaced, with Greg Brandt of Devy Watch pointing to a concerning quote from Etienne about his receiving ability. Etienne said:
"“I feel nervous I guess. Cause the ball is coming, and I always feel like the defender is right there, so I run before I catch the ball and get spooked by my surroundings.”"
Playing for a dominant college football powerhouse like Clemson, Etienne has been able to thrive despite showing a lack of receiving upside. But in the NFL, where pass-catching backs are increasingly valuable, an admission he gets nervous when preparing to catch the ball is unlikely to go down well.
Yet Etienne should have plenty of opportunities in 2019 to prove he can excel as a receiver. Clemson, providing Dabo Swinney’s men maintain the same kind of performances that saw them crush Alabama in the National Championship Game, should have plenty of matchups in which the Tigers are up big, theoretically allowing Etienne to show off his skills as a pass-catcher in environments free of pressure.
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The NFL’s best backs are those who can make a significant difference running the ball as well as catching it out of the backfield. Etienne has demonstrated little proclivity to do the latter and will need to drastically change his mindset when being targeted in the passing game to ensure he is in contention to be selected in the first round in 2020.