Round 4 - Panthers draft Trevor Etienne RB UGA

[Bear Hands]

RB University of Georgia

RB9 on the Beast - the blurb:

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Projected Round: 3rd

A one-year starter at Georgia, Etienne became the lead back in offensive coordinator Mike Bobo’s zone-based power scheme with gap principles included. He was part of a committee backfield in his two seasons at Florida before jumping to the Gators’ hated rivals for the 2024 season. He finished as Georgia’s second-leading rusher but battled through a rib injury over the second half of the year (his team’s second-leading rusher each of his three seasons in college).

Etienne is built low to the ground with the vision and tempo to follow blockers with little wasted motion. He doesn’t have the same type of electric acceleration as his older brother, but he has balanced feet in the hole with short-area cutting burst to shake defenders in tight spaces. Overall, there might not be anything exceptional about Etienne’s game, but he also doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses that would keep him from seeing steady NFL snaps. His promise as a pass catcher and blocker gives him value on all three downs.

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• Compactly built and runs bigger than listed, with muscular lower half
• Pairs his feet with his eyes at line to set up moves
• Agile footwork for sharp cuts and last-minute redirects
• Runs with tempo and balance through hole
• Gathers and establishes his weight quickly post-cut
• Consistently finishes runs with toughness
• Large, accepting hands as receiving target — rarely let a pass hit the ground
• Just 371 carries in college — plenty of tread left
• Became an offensive leader at Georgia (Kirby Smart: “He hasn't had even a full year with these guys, but he's not afraid to speak up.”)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/the-beast/2025/player/trevor_etienne-running_back-Nv8RI8P1e7cEORfU/

[Fox007]

Certainly a draft pick

[Mistuh Jones]

Welp... someone inevitably is going to get hurt, right?

[TheBigKat]

If we believe in BPA then this makes sense

 

if we believe in needs then this doesn’t make sense

[bythenbrs]

Waiting to hear Dan explain how this pick was BPA…

[Krovvy]

 

[Nate Dogg]

 

[Proudiddy]

I liked what I saw of him in college, but do we need to be 3 deep at HB?

[flagfootballcoach28]

Really sucks that Kizer or Stutzman didn’t fall to us. UGA was a different team when Etienne was on the field though. Good wiggle, vision, break tackle ability, catching ability. Let’s see what happens. 

[Icege]

Dane Brugler's The Beast 2025

Carolina Panthers' Draft Guide

NFL.com

Edited April 26 by Icege

[Khyber53]

Third down back in training. We'll lose Dowdle after this season.

 

[Daeavorn]

Brooks is toast I bet. Cant ever rely on him recovering 

[mrcompletely11]

6 minutes ago, bythenbrs said:

Waiting to hear Dan explain how this pick was BPA…

"We want to run the ball.........."

[Icege]

I really, really like this pick when I sit back and reflect on the Panthers' current situation.

Etienne's reports show that he's a by-committee back. He doesn't excel at anything, but he has no glaring weaknesses either. He's just... solid.

That's a great RB2, regardless if JB's knee is done. It positions the team to still rock with Chuba as the premiere guy and JB's return will only be a massive boost to the room.