LSU Football: Tigers lead for elite 2022 running back

LSU football could be the team to beat for an elite 2022 running back.

Trevor Etienne, 5-foot-10/200 lbs from Jennings, LA (Jennings), is ranked in 247Sports’ composite rankings as the No. 12 running back in the country and the No. 9 player in Louisiana.

According to Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney, the “latest rumor” is that the Tigers are the program to beat for Etienne.

“The latest rumor about Etienne is that LSU is starting to emerge as the frontrunner in his recruitment for numerous reasons,” wrote Gorney.

“It’s the in-state school, he could carve out his own thing in Baton Rouge, he likes the offensive line class LSU is putting together and some people close to him might favor the Tigers,” added Gorney.

Trevor Etienne is a must-get player for LSU football

LSU can’t afford to miss on Etienne.

It’s not because the Tigers are hurting at running back. It’s because the program has already watched Etienne’s brother, Travis, leave the state and have massive success at Clemson.

They certainly don’t want to see that happen again.

LSU missed on Travis Etienne because they were pursuing Cam Akers (who eventually signed with Florida State). The Tigers were afraid if they offered another running back, it would hurt their pursuit of Akers.

By the time LSU decided to pursue Etienne, it was too late.

“We wanted Travis Etienne at the end, but it was too little, too late,” said Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron in late 2019 (via Sports Illustrated).

“Something that I think we should have done a better job of, we should have recruited him at an earlier age, like we do all our great Louisiana backs, and keep them in state,” added Orgeron. “He’s the one that got away.”

It’s clear that LSU is determined to not make the same mistake with Trevor Etienne.

And so far, it looks like they’re going a good job of making sure Etienne ends up playing in Baton Rouge. But there’s still a long way to go in this recruiting battle.