Travis Etienne impresses at Clemson Pro Day

Top-end running back prospect, Travis Etienne out of Clemson, posted an impressive pro day Thursday at Clemson — is his draft stock on the rise?

At Clemson’s pro day, Etienne showcased his speed after posting a 4.40 40-yard dash to pair with his 33 1/5 in. vertical and 10’9” broad jump. Etienne has added some bulk since we last saw him in the CFB playoffs against Ohio State, making his 4.40 all the more impressive given his size.

In his final season at Clemson, Etienne posted 923 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. Though this was a dip in touches and overall rushing production from his junior season in 2019, Etienne continued to excel as a receiver, commanding the second-most targets among all RBs in 2020. He ran the fifth-most routes in the FBS in his senior season and posted an impressive 2.26 yards per route run — ranking third among all running backs with at least 35 targets on the year.

Etienne ranked as the No. 18 ranked prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s latest top-50 rankings, published on February 23rd, sitting as the RB1 on his board. For now, it appears that he or Alabama RB Najee Harris are likely to be the first running backs off of the board. Etienne’s big-play ability, size and ability as a receiver make him a prospect that could find success in virtually any NFL offense.

Etienne’s pro day measurements and performance

Height: 5’10 1/8”
Weight: 215 lbs.
Hand size: 9 3/8 in.
40-yard dash: 4.40
Vertical jump: 33 1/2”
Broad jump: 10’8”

What does it mean for dynasty fantasy football leagues?

Travis Etienne’s impressive pro day doesn’t tell us much that we didn’t already know, but it’s always nice to see validation. What we can take away from his collegiate production and now from his Clemson Pro Day is that he has the size, ability and speed to be a featured back at the NFL level. His prowess as a receiver raises could make him a big-time steal in dynasty rookie drafts (especially in PPR scoring formats) if he is taken by an RB-needy team willing to utilize him as a receiver.

Depending on which way the wind is blowing each week, we’ve seen some combination of Etienne along with Alabama RB Najee Harris and UNC RB Javonte Williams in the top-three among rookie running backs in pre-draft average draft position (ADP). This data won’t change much based on Etienne’s successful pro day, but a slip up for either of the other top prospects could shake things up down the road.

Alabama’s Pro Day is set for March 23rd, and UNC’s Pro Day is set for March 29th. You can check out the rest of the schedule for NFL Pro Days here.