Etienne settling in on Owls’ veteran O-line
Former Park Vista standout’s demeanor, play impress peers.
BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic guard BJ Etienne says he didn’t feel nervous about making his college debut against then-No. 7 Oklahoma this month.
By that point, Etienne was no stranger to big games. It was only two years ago that Etienne, in his lone season at national powerhouse Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas, faced a similar situation.
“We traveled and played a real big game in (Las Vegas) against No. 1 Bishop Gorman,” said Etienne, a former two-star recruit. “And that was kind of like that same vibe going into Norman. Traveling on the plane Week 1 kind of had that same vibe.”
The Raiders’ 25-24 loss in triple overtime was one of only two games they dropped that year en
route to winning the Class 7A state championship. Similarly, the Owls dropped their highly anticipated season opener 63-14 in Etienne’s first start at the Division I level.
After redshirting last season and struggling a bit early this season, Etienne — who played his first three years of high school football at Park Vista — has settled into the starting left guard spot.
“I’m definitely more comfortable (than I was) in the first game,” he said. “I feel like I’m rolling now.”
Etienne, 19, isthe youngest fulltime starter on a veteran offensive line that features three players in their final year. All-Conference USA left tackle Reggie Bain is a redshirt senior. Center Junior
Diaz and right guard Antonio Riles are graduate transfers from Tulane and Florida, respectively.
Right tackle Brandon Walton is the only other non-se- nior on FAU’s offensive line. Walton is a junior who has started FAU’s past 18 games.
Riles has been impressed by Etienne’s play on the field and his demeanor.
“I didn’t even know he was a freshman initially,” Riles said. “He carries himself very maturely and I like what he’s doing . ... You’re playing on the highest level as a freshman. I’m definitely confident in BJ.”
After All-CUSA first-team selection Roman Fernandez (Seminole Ridge) exhausted his final year of eligibility, Etienne began spring camp as the Owls’ starting left guard and never relinquished the job. He held his own through- out the summer against a talented group of defensive linemen and was praised by teammates throughout the offseason.
FAU coach Lane Kiffin noted that Etienne, like several of the team’s top players, is quiet and lets his play do the talking. His quiet nature could be a product of Etienne’s year at St. Thomas, which he called “humbling.” Despite playing at a high school that regularly fields Power Five prospects, Etienne’s only FBS scholarship offers came from FAU, Georgia Southern and Marshall.
A Lake Worth native, Etienne chose the lone Division I school in Palm Beach County — and at that point, the only school in the area that fielded a football team. Keiser University had yet to sign its first player.
“When I was at Park Vista, I was kind of the big fish in the small pond,” Etienne said. “When I went to St. Thomas, I was another guy.”
Etienne is one of only four teenagers starting on a veteran Owls team. Redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Robison and safety Zyon Gilbert are 19. Freshman punter Sebastian Riella is 18.
“There’s no substitute for experience,” Etienne said, “so seeing some things in Nor- man in that first start, I got a lot of things under my belt. Playing at home, playing on the road in a tough environment. I don’t feel like it can get any tougher than that.”