Billy Napier has already made some splashes on the recruiting trail less than two months into his tenure as Florida's head coach. First, he landed five-star safety Kamari Wilson, who will hold down the Gator secondary for years to come.
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Now, Napier has landed the second crown jewel of his first UF recruiting class.
Trevor Etienne isn't only a four-star running back out of Jennings, Louisiana. If his last name sounds familiar, it's because his brother, Travis Etienne, was a stud on Clemson's 2018 national championship team, set the ACC career rushing yards record and currently plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL.
4-Star RB Trevor Etienne Commits to Florida
.@Trevor_Etienne commits to @GatorsFB! #GoGators | @AABonNBC pic.twitter.com/LQ42xGyafO
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 8, 2022
RELATED: Florida Lands 5-Star Safety to Kick Off Billy Napier Era
The Jennings High School product had offers from Clemson, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida Atlantic, Florida State, Georgia, Howard, Louisiana, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Monroe, LSU, Marshall, McNeese State, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Southern Miss, Southern University, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Virginia before committing to the Gators, per 247Sports.
The running back announced his decision from the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. He ranks as the 15th best running back and 183rd best player nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
A big part of Eteinne's pledge was the relationship he built with Napier while the head coach was recruiting him at Louisiana. He was sold on what Napier has planned for him down in Gainesville.
"I love the vision that they have for the program," he said about the University of Florida. "It's definitely something that I see myself being a part of."
Travis was also key in the decision-making process and urged his younger brother to do what was best for him personally:
"You know, don't do something based off of what someone else did or has a say so in," Trevor said Travis told him, via Sports Illustrated. "I'm the one that has to live with this decision. And this is a 40-year decision, not a four-year decision. So, this is something you have to live with for the rest of your life."
Trevor Etienne Highlights
Like his older brother, Trevor is a combination of power and speed. He sports a 5-foot-9, 218-pound frame that allows him to run through contact, and he has the legs to leave defenders in the dust. Judging from his high school highlights, opponents didn't seem to know how to bring him down. He would either lower his shoulder or already be past them by the time they made their decision.
These skills were a major reason why Etienne rushed for 1,344 yards and 20 touchdowns in seven games during the 2021 season, according to MaxPreps. That averages out to 192 yards per contest.
Florida head coach Billy Napier has already turned Gainesville into an attractive destination, which is great news for Gator fans following Dan Mullen's recruiting woes. Trevor Etienne figures to be a key part of that.
