Clemson Football: 5 impact players for Tigers in national title game

By Dana Becker | Jan 3, 2019

CLEMSON, SC - SEPTEMBER 09: Defensive end Austin Bryant #7, defensive end Clelin Ferrell #99, and defensive lineman Christian Wilkins #42 of the Clemson Tigers celebrate following a sack made by Bryant against the Auburn Tigers at Memorial Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Travis Etienne didn’t let a stiff Notre Dame defense get him down in the Cotton Bowl. Instead, the sensational sophomore remains committed to find a lane and breaking free, which he finally did on a 62-yard touchdown run late for Clemson.

Etienne recorded his third consecutive 100-yard game, racking up 109 yards on just 14 carries. He has eight games of triple digits on the year and has found the end zone in five of his last six.

After scoring 13 touchdowns as a true freshman last season while sharing time, Etienne has become the focal point to the rushing attack garnering ACC honors and hitting paydirt 22 times.

With Trevor Lawrence keeping defenses honest in the passing game, there should be more cracks for Etienne to expose in the national championship. He has averaged at least seven yards per carry in nine of the 14 games for Clemson this season.

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