Clemson running back Travis Etienne has been a special talent since he stepped foot on campus.

It did not take head coach Dabo Swinney long to understand how special he was.

“He was kind of puny when he got here. Just not a very imposing guy,” Swinney said. “He had big old braces on his teeth, and we thought that maybe he would redshirt or something. Then we get into camp, the first time we get into full pads, the very first day...he broke a run and it was like, ‘Woah!’

“Then for the rest of camp, it didn’t matter what group he was with, he could have been with the threes, the twos, the ones...every day he would break a run to the point where you are like, ‘This is unbelievable.’”

While Swinney may have had a glimpse of just how explosive Etienne could be, he had no idea that a mere 3 seasons later. The now-senior has achieved re cords that Swinney never thought anyone would touch.

Etienne had already cemented his status in Clemson and ACC history, becoming Clemson’s all-time leading rusher and its first 4,000-yard rusher while also securing ACC records for career rushing touchdowns, career total touchdowns and career points by a non-kicker.

Now, Etienne, who was the first running back to win back-to-back ACC Player of | the Year honors since Mike Voight in 1975- 76, will attempt to become the first 3-time winner in conference history and join Herschel Walker, a 3-time SEC Player of the Year from 1980-82, as the only players to win conference player of the year honors three times in a career.

“It is really great, but it is not just because of me. It is because of the team, the guys I have around me, the receivers that I have,” Etienne said. “The great receivers are willing to do it all, and Trevor too. I am thankful for all those guys to be out there. I would not be in this position to have all these records and accomplishments. I would like to think that.”

“I’m just really proud of him,” Offensive coordinator and running backs coach Tony Elliott said. “He’s such a humble guy. I’m not a big fan of people deserving things, but if there’s anyone who deserves this, it’s Travis,” Elliott said. “He always deflects the attention, making it about his offensive line and his teammates. He’s got the ability to do it and it’s refreshing to see a young man who puts the work in and is able to achieve what he can.”