Jennings (La.) four-star running back Trevor Etienne saw his senior season come to an end over the weekend when his Bulldogs fell 58-26 to Bogalusa in the first round of the playoffs.
The early exit has allowed Etienne, who finished his senior season with 2,005 yards and 31 touchdowns in 10 games, to now turn his full attention to his recruiting process.
After visiting Florida back in June, Etienne ended his summer by naming a top five consisting of Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, and LSU.
The 5-foot-10, 200-pound back will return to Gainesville in a week on the first of two back-to-back official visits.
“I'm heading to Florida on the [November] 27th and Clemson on the [December] 5th,” said Etienne. “I don't have anything else set up because I don't know where else I'll go, but I won't be taking all [five] of them.”
Etienne said that besides his parents and sisters, there could be an added addition to his weekend in Gainesville.
“My brother [Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Etienne] said he may be able to come depending on what his schedule is like.”
Though he has the two official visits set and said he wouldn't be taking all three of his remaining visits, he did want to add that he is still considering all five of his previously named finalists.
“It's still the same,” replied Etienne when asked for an updated leaderboard. “I'm pretty much undecided among those five, but I'd say Florida, LSU, and Clemson are recruiting me the hardest.”
Leading the charge for Florida are two coaches.
“I speak to Coach [Greg] Knox and Coach [Dan] Mullen pretty often,” said Etienne. “Florida tells me pretty much the same thing that all the other coaches say. They think I can help their program win games and a championship.”
Interestingly, of his five finalists, it is the three programs having down seasons that he feels are recruiting him the hardest because they need him the most.
“Everybody has a rebuilding period, and I definitely feel like I can go to any one of them and help them become a better team.”
According to Etienne, he won't be inking on Early Signing Day in December, and will instead wait until February to make his choice.
When it comes time to make his decision, he said he is looking mostly for one thing.
“I think they would all use me the same running the ball and catching the ball out of the backfield. I want to find a home away from home. I don't mind the distance or being away from my family if I feel like my new team feels like family. I want to find somewhere I feel like I want to be there for three or four years.”
Etienne is the No. 180 ranked prospect in the nation according to the 247 Sports Composite.
The Inside Scoop: He won't say it, but it wouldn't be surprising if this was down to Clemson and Florida – period. Alabama, Georgia, and LSU all have highly rated running backs as part of their current classes while both the UF and CU still have a need. If his brother Travis can make it to town that weekend (Jacksonville plays at home), that would be an added bonus of showing Trevor and the family how his proximity to Gainesville is a plus for the Gators.