Georgia might've found their RB1 for the 2024 season as they landed a commitment from Florida transfer Running back Trevor Etienne on Sunday.
This past year at Florida, Etienne served as 1A/1B alongside Montrell Johnson. Etienne had 753 rushing yards and 8 rushing TD's on 131 carries (5.7 yards per carry) on the year. He also added 21 receptions for 172 yards and another TD through the air. Etienne had similar numbers in his Freshman season in 2022 as well, going for 118 carries, 719 rushing yards, and 6 TD's. Etienne also has experience as a Kick Returner as he has averaged 24.8 per return on 26 returns across his career so far.
Florida transfer RB Trevor Etienne commits to Georgia
The one area Etienne will have to improve on in order to be an every down back (and just in general) will be in pass protection, but Georgia is not a team under Kirby Smart that utilizes one go-to back. They use two (and sometimes three) backs quite often. Nevertheless, Etienne adds a lot of talent to the Georgia backfield.
247 ranks Etienne as the top RB and the No. 19 overall player currently in the transfer portal. On3 also has Etienne as the top RB in the portal, but ranks him even higher overall at No. 11.
Etienne had 95 carries, 553 yards (5.8 ypc), and 7 TD's against SEC foes this season for the Gators. He also notably has 18 carries, 95 rushing yards, 4 catches, 21 receiving yards, and 1 TD in two career games against Georgia while at Florida.
Georgia needed the veteran addition in the RB room due to the departures (due to graduation) of Georgia's top 2 backs from last year in Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton. Those two accounted for 65.2% of Georgia's rushing yardage and 23 of the Dawgs' 35 rushing TD's last year. Georgia has a lot of young talent at the position, but was lacking experience.
Branson Robinson showed flashes in his Freshman season in 2022 (68 carries, 330 rushing yards, and 3 TD's), but he missed of all of 2023 due to a knee injury. Roderick Robinson is also a talented youngster, but was limited to just 17 carries in his Freshman season in 2023. Nate Frazier, Dwight Phillips Jr., and Chauncey Bowens are incoming Freshmen at RB out of the class of 2024.
This has arguably been Georgia's busiest offseason in the transfer portal up to this point. Georgia has already added WR London Humphreys (Vanderbilt), WR Colbie Young (Miami (FL)), DL Xzavier McLeod (South Carolina), and LS Beau Gardner (UCLA) out of the portal.
Etienne will have up to two years of eligibility remaining in Athens, but will also be draft eligible after this next season. He is also the younger brother of former Clemson star and current Jaguars RB Travis Etienne.