What makes Georgia RB Trevor Etienne so special according to Kirby Smart after huge win over Auburn
When Georgia lost their top three running backs from a year ago to the NFL Draft and the Transfer Portal it was clear that Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs were going to be in search of a new difference-making running back in 2024. Trevor Etienne was brought in from Florida this past off-season to be […]
When Georgia lost their top three running backs from a year ago to the NFL Draft and the Transfer Portal it was clear that Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs were going to be in search of a new difference-making running back in 2024. Trevor Etienne was brought in from Florida this past off-season to be "the guy", but missed some time early this year and hadn't quite become the feature back Georgia needed prior to Saturday's win over Auburn.
Georgia's search for their feature back is now over. Trevor Etienne tallied a total of 124 yards from scrimmage, scored two touchdowns and was talked up heavily by both quarterback Carson Beck and head coach Kirby Smart in their post-game pressers. Smart clearly thinks the world of Etienne, and was seen immediately following the game walking off the field with his arm around the star running back.
Etienne and Smart clearly have a close relationship. When asked about Etienne's performance on Saturday, Coach Smart not only talked about what was special about this one game, but also shared what make's Etienne so special himself:
"Yeah, it's more than the touchdowns. Obviously, touchdowns are great, but that's not what it's about. It's about the hard yards. It's about the third and 10 catch that [Trevor Etienne] gets and makes it fourth and one. It's about the fourth and one play that he gets and makes [a play]. He's earned really hard yards. He is a great leader. He is a great kid. He's an explosive player. But I thought, you know, I thought today he got weighted, he got tired. He was tired at the end of the game…but I thought [Etienne] was solid."
This is really the second time that Etienne has stepped up big time when Georgia needed him most. The first came on the most pivotal drive of the Kentucky game where he just took over and could not be stopped. This time around Etienne dominated the entire game. But one play in particular in Saturday's rivalry win over Auburn perfectly encapsulates all the things that Kirby Smart shared about him.
It was late in the third quarter. Georgia was up 21-10 on the Auburn 23-yard line. If the Bulldogs scored on that drive the game would likely be all but over. Etienne takes the ball, immediately seeing that he has to bounce the ball outside. He makes one man miss at the line. He jukes another. Then uses his strength and explosiveness to push through three more defenders all the way to the Auburn two-yard line. It was a perfect display of explosion, agility, and earning the hard yards when it matters most.
Etienne just kept pushing hard on every play, setting the tone for Georgia's entire offense. And as Beck stated in his post-game presser, Etienne just found himself at the second level of the defense quite often. That should continue all year long if he keeps playing with the same level of intensity for Georgia.
Etienne may have gotten a little tired near the end of the game like Coach Smart mentioned, but thankfully Georgia has a very talented true freshman running back in Nate Frazier to help possibly carry some of the load. As the season progresses Etienne should continue to carry the load as the team's dynamic feature back, but it's good to know that Frazier can step in when called upon too.
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