Clemson lands in final three for elite 2022 running back Trevor Etienne

Eric Boynton, Greenville News
·3 min read
Trevor Etienne runs with the ball as the Jennings Bulldogs take on Eunice Friday, September 10, 2021.
Trevor Etienne runs with the ball as the Jennings Bulldogs take on Eunice Friday, September 10, 2021.
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Clemson landed among the three finalists on Monday for highly coveted running back Trevor Etienne.

The younger brother of former Clemson star running back, two-time ACC Player of the Year and first-round pick by Jacksonville, Travis Etienne, the younger sibling announced via social media he was down to the Tigers, Florida and LSU.

It's an interesting final trio for the Jennings, Louisiana prospect with Florida announcing Monday it was hiring former Clemson offensive coordinator and Furman quarterback Billy Napier to replace fired coach Dan Mullen. LSU announced earlier that this season would be the last for coach Ed Orgeron and is currently going through the hiring process.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is completing his 13th full season in his current position.

"At those three schools I feel like I can maximize my potential and grow as a person and a player while getting the best education," Etienne told 247Sports before adding he hadn't spoken to Napier on Monday, but had in the past as he holds an offer from Napier's last spot at Louisiana Lafayette.

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He also said he plans to announce his decision live on NBC during the Jan. 8 All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

Etienne previously had narrowed his finalists to 10 with Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, Auburn, Tennessee, Florida State and Penn State still in the mix at the time.

The 5-foot-10, 200-pounder is ranked as the No. 180 overall prospect, 15th-best at his position and 13th-best in his state for the 2022 class in the 247Sports Composite. He hasn't taken any official visits.

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Multiple sites have Swinney paying Etienne an in-home visit on Monday evening. Etienne had planned to make his official visit to Clemson for the Nov. 13 win over Connecticut before being forced to cancel due to having a playoff game.

The Tigers missed on the other two of three running backs they offered for the current cycle with No. 1 Emmanuel Henderson committed to Alabama and No. 3 Branson Robinson heading to Georgia. Etienne is the third-highest remaining uncommitted running back behind Louisiana's TreVonte' Citizen (No. 9 and considered a strong LSU lean prior to the coaching change) and No. 10 Nevada recruit Jovantae Barnes (considered a strong Oklahoma lean before its coaching change).

Trevor Etienne, right, of Jennings, La., younger brother of Travis Etienne, stands with running backs during Dabo Swinney Football Camp 2021 day one in Clemson Wednesday, June 2, 2021.
Trevor Etienne, right, of Jennings, La., younger brother of Travis Etienne, stands with running backs during Dabo Swinney Football Camp 2021 day one in Clemson Wednesday, June 2, 2021.

Clemson lost two running backs to the transfer portal during this season in senior Lyn-J Dixon and sophomore Michel Dukes The Tigers have a talented trio of young players at the position led by freshman Will Shipley, who returned from injury to have a strong final stretch of the regular season including 128 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries in Saturday's win over South Carolina.

More: What the Clemson versus South Carolina football rivalry means in terms of recruiting

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson lands in final three for 2022 running back Trevor Etienne