The rumor mill was buzzing Monday morning about the status of Georgia running back Trevor Etienne in No. 1 Bulldogs' season opener against No. 14 Clemson. Etienne, a Florida transfer, was arrested in May on DUI and reckless driving charges.
Asked about Etienne's availability for Saturday's game, coach Kirby Smart demurred.
"I don't really talk about any of the other stuff in regards to any of our players with suspensions," Smart said, according to Dawgs247's Jordan D. Hill. "But I'm excited about all the guys that are gonna get an opportunity to play."
The DUI charge was later dismissed as part of a deal with prosecutors. But Etienne plead no contest to reckless driving and guilty to underage possession of alcohol, failure to maintain lane and a window tint violation.
Etienne, who is the younger brother of former Clemson running back Travis Etienne, is expected to be Georgia's top back in the 2024 season after rushing for over 700 yards during both his freshman and sophomore seasons at Florida. The junior back ranked as the No. 3 running back transfer of the 2024 offseason, per 247Sports, slotting behind only Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss to Ohio State) and Damien Martinez (Oregon State to Miami).
If Etienne is suspended for the Clemson game, it would be a blow to Georgia's running back room. Roderick Robinson, has been dealing with a case of turf toe that slowed him during preseason practice. With Robinson dealing with health uncertainty, the door is open for Branson Robinson to play a significant role in the backfield against the Tigers.
Robinson missed all of the 2023 season with a torn patellar tendon after amassing 330 yards on the ground as a freshman in 2022 but has received good reviews during preseason practice.
MORE: Bad news for Georgia's running back room continues, Dawgs247 reports
