Swinney believes Etienne will be first running back off the board

There are some out there who believe Travis Etienne has not had the kind of year they expected from the two-time ACC Player of the Year.

Dabo Swinney is not one of those people.

The Clemson head coach said Monday on the ACC Network’s Packer & Durham Show that his star running back has had a great year and his greatness is not necessarily driven by big numbers. However, Etienne did put up big numbers against Notre Dame in the ACC Championship Game, as he rushed for 124 yards and scored on a 44-yard touchdown run in the second quarter of the Tigers’ 34-10 win.

“He was awesome and really took it upon himself to be ready,” Swinney said.

But Etienne’s 100-yard afternoon in Charlotte was the first…