The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tigers’ top- shelf duo, aka ‘ T- squared’, plays down early Heisman talk
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and tailback Travis Etienne are doing their best to complement each other as teammates as they trample opponents.
They’re also giving Heisman Trophy voters plenty to think about down the road.
“There’s not two better football players in the country than T- squared,” Clemson coachDabo Swinney said.
That could be evident when voters decide oncollege football’s biggest individual award, considering how well Lawrence and Etienne have opened this year.
They have led the top- ranked Tigers to their sixth straight 4- 0 start, a relentless offffffffffffensive juggernaut that has outscored the opposition 168- 53 so far.
Lawrence, the 6- foot- 6 junior from Cartersville High with the flflowing hair and cannonarm, has completed 72% of his throws for 1,140yardsand10touchdowns. He has also gone 12 full games without throwing an interception, a streak of 355 passing attempts.
Etienne, thetwo- timedefending Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, has run for 392 yards
and four TDs. He’s also second on the Tigers with 17 receptions.
Etienne set a college football recordwitha touchdownina 39th game, breaking a tie with two others, including past Heisman winner Tim Tebow of Florida.
Lawrence and Etienne have an
easy- going connectionthat comes from wanting to win asmuch as possible and improve each time out, offffffffffffensive coordinator Tony Elliott said.
“They want to do what’s required, they want the ball in their hands,” Elliott said. “But they also want their teammates to be successful.”
Etienne, a senior, arrived fifirst as a goofy, gangly runner who got a scholarship offffffffffffer latewhen another recruit went elsewhere. Etienne had breakaway speed, but it took him time to develop the power moves he uses these days to escape tacklers for bigger gains.
Etienne was a considered a strong second- rounder in the last NFLdraft, yet chose to returnfor a fifinal college season both, he says, as a lessonto his younger brother, whosenameisTrevor, about staying the course and improving his skills as a pass catcher when he turns pro next season.
“I’mglad I could be the example,” Etienne said.
Lawrence entered as a fivestar heir apparent to Clemson’s national championship QB Deshaun Watson. After four games as backup his freshman year in 2018, Lawrence was elevated to starter and has gone 29- 1 since, including a national title in his fifirst season. The lone loss was to LSU in last year’s championship game.
For Lawrence, the LSU defeat reminded himhowmuch it hurt to lose andledhim to dig inmore, to improve during an offffffffffffseason of uncertainty and opt- outs due to COVID- 19.
He’s grateful he has had the opportunity to play with and befriend Etienne, who continuallyamazes the quarterbackwith what he does.
“I haven’t seen a better player in college football, honestly,” Lawrence said.
There are several instances of teammates vying for the Heisman with each other: on 14 occasions two players fromthe same school fifinished in the top fifive in voting The last timewas last year, as Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields was third and Buckeyes defensive end Chase Young was fourth.
Southern Cal tailback Reggie Bushwas thelast to winaHeisman with a teammate near the top as quarterback Matt Leinart was third in 2005. Bush voluntarily gave up his award due to NCAA violations.
Etienne said he and Lawrence don’t discuss any awards, including the Heisman. Lawrence, though, has no doubt who’d get his support for the sports’ top prize.
“I’d vote for him,” Lawrence said about his teammate. “He’s special.”