Clemson’s Travis Etienne could be the second coming of Alvin Kamara

Clemson’s Travis Etienne will be a great NFL running back.

Given the short shelf life of running backs, it was a bit of a surprise that Clemson running back Travis Etienne returned to school for his senior season. But he’s in line to be the first running back drafted in the 2021 NFL Draft and he’s a top candidate for the Heisman Trophy this year as the Tigers look to win another National Championship.

Etienne (5-foot-10, 210 pounds) has drawn an early comparison to Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook. With his assertion that Etienne is better than any back in the 2020 draft class, NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah has added New Orleans Saints dual-threat back Alvin Kamara as someone who shares similarities and traits as Etienne.

Is Travis Etienne the next Alvin Kamara?

"I see a lot of Alvin Kamara after studying these three games. Both guys have rare quickness and burst. Kamara is more advanced as a route runner, but Etienne has the tools to achieve that level of performance. They also share a natural feel for the position. Kamara doesn’t need to touch the ball 25 times to have a major impact on a game. The same can be said for Etienne. Kamara is one of the top weapons in the NFL, and I believe Etienne could develop into the same type of player."

Jeremiah cited Etienne’s limited use in the passing game outside of the screen game at Clemson, albeit while flashing the tools to do more, and that leads to him not being as advanced a pass-catcher as Kamara. Etienne, as is the case for a lot of young running backs, needs to refine his technique in pass protection. But in Jeremiah’s assessment, willingness to block is not the issue.

If Etienne is not as advanced a route runner as Kamara right now, that should be where the comp to the New Orleans Saints’ No. 1 running back pretty much ends. With how proficient Cook has become in the screen game, and similar skills otherwise, he is the easiest and best comparison for Etienne.

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