Summary

Travis “TJ” Etienne was selected in Round 1 (#25 Overall) out of Clemson University. At Clemson, Etienne set ACC career records for rushing yards (4,952), rushing touchdowns (70), total touchdowns (78), and points scored (468), while scoring a touchdown in 46 of 55 games — an FBS/NCAA record. He was a Consensus All‑American and multi‑year ACC Offensive Player of the Year candidate known for his explosive playmaking and elite production. In the NFL, Etienne has been a primary offensive weapon for Jacksonville, tallying over 3,600 rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns through the 2025 season, including back‑to‑back 1,000+ rushing yard seasons in 2022 and 2023. Off the field, Etienne is recognized for his work ethic, competitiveness, leadership, and professionalism, traits that helped him overcome a missed rookie season due to injury and become a central figure in the Jaguars’ offense.

Strengths

• Explosive Rushing Ability: Combines burst, long‑speed, and home‑run potential, capable of hitting the edge or bursting through creases for big gains.

• Elite Acceleration & Vision: Quick crease recognition and acceleration allow him to hit running lanes decisively, setting up his blockers well in space and creating yardage before defenders can react.

• Balanced Runner: Etienne is built low to the ground with a thick lower body and powerful quads affording him good contact balance and ability to stay upright through initial tackle and he does well to secure the ball to prevent fumbles.

• Receiving Ability: A versatile pass‑catcher out of the backfield with dependable hands and route awareness, adding value on third downs and check‑downs. Etienne is one of a few RBs who have scored 3 receiving touchdowns in one game.

Weaknesses

• Short‑Yardage/Power Situations: Not the most physically dominant between the tackles on power runs or short yardage when interior gaps close quickly and can get tripped up by limbs around his ankles and shoe strings.

• Pass Protection: Etienne is more featured on early downs as a runner and has had periods where pass‑blocking fundamentals and blitz pick up decisions can crumble under pressure.

• Volatility in Committee Roles: With the Jaguars employing a committee or “hot hand” approach with him and Bhayshul Tuten at times, his rush attempts and touches can fluctuate, potentially impacting consistency.

• Inside Rugged Runs: While explosive outside and zone run schemes play to his strengths, brute inside power runs against stacked fronts can be less productive, although he has done a better job in this capacity on goal line situations.

Outlook

Etienne is best suited as a lead back in zone‑based or hybrid rushing attacks that allow him to utilize his vision, acceleration, and open‑field skills. He excels when the offense structures blocks horizontally to create cutback lanes and stretch runs, allowing him to accelerate into space and make defenders miss. Etienne’s receiving prowess also makes him a natural fit in modern multi‑down offenses that expect their backs to be frontline contributors in the passing game. Looking forward, he remains a core offensive weapon for Jacksonville, capable of top‑tier all‑purpose production if given a lead role. While committee backfields can dilute raw counting stats, his talent burst and versatility give him clear value as a focal point of any rushing corps. If he continues to refine pass protection and maintains consistent volume, Etienne projects as a long‑term three‑down back and playmaker, with a ceiling as one of the better all‑around running backs in the league. Etienne’s electric production in his contract year has given Liam Coen and the Jaguars regime a difficult decision to pay a running back come this offseason.