With the 43rd Pick, the San Francisco 49ers select...
Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
Height: 5'10 Weight 215 lbs.
Arms: 30.125 Hands: 9.375
40yd. Dash: 4.41
According to Chad Reuter of NFL.com:
Etienne (pronounced EE-tee-ehn) rushed for nearly 5,400 yards in his final two seasons at Jennings High School. As a true freshman, Etienne led Clemson in rushing despite not starting any of his 13 appearances (107 carries, 766 yards, 7.2 ypc, 13 touchdowns; five receptions, 57 yards, 11.4 average; team-high 19 kick returns, 389 yards, 20.5 average).
The 2018 Doak Walker Award finalist started all 15 games that season and tied the ACC record with 26 total touchdowns (12 receptions, 78 yards, 6.5 average, two touchdowns). Etienne was also the ACC Player of the Year as a sophomore after setting a school record with 1,658 yards and 24 touchdowns rushing on 204 carries (8.1 per) for the national champions. He was named a second-team Associated Press All-American and
ACC Player of the Year in 2019 after bringing the Tigers back to the national title game with 1,614 yards and 19 touchdowns on 207 carries (7.8 per) while also catching 37 passes for 432 yards (11.7 per) and four scores in 15 starts. Etienne also set the Clemson school career rushing record during the season. He surprised most everyone by announcing he would return to Clemson for the 2020 season after excelling in his first three years on campus.
He garnered first-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-ACC honors at running back (168 carries, 913 yards, 5.4 ypc) and as an all-purpose performer (48 receptions, 588 yards, 12.3 average, two touchdowns; eight kick returns, 189 yards, 23.6 average; one punt return, 44 yards). The Doak Walker and Paul Hornung Award finalist started all 12 games on the year, tying for seventh in the FBS with 14 rushing touchdowns and
setting the ACC mark for career rushing yards with 4,952.
Why would the 49ers possibly do this?
I changed my strategy for the franchise once the actual front office made a splash move for a developmental quarterback in the first round. This is no longer a team looking to ride a top three defense and balanced offense into another NFC championship. Kyle Shanahan is looking to get his guys in on offense and blow teams out.
Jimmy G. goes from pouting as the bridge quarterback to the guy in his prime with better weapons than he will ever have again. All he needs to do is stay healthy and win.
Raheem Mostert is still a great story and a better runner in a committee. He's a guy who went from special teams ace to a first and second down runner. The problem was all the high-priced free agent speed backs who were dinged up. Etienne bumps the 28 year old Mostert back into a supporting role with his speed, greatly improved receiving chops, and ideal fit for the wide zone running scheme.