USC came up short in pursuit of four-star OT Micah Morris of Kingsland, GA when he committed to Georgia Wednesday. But the Gamecocks moved quickly on another big-time tackle prospect with an offer Thursday to Caleb Etienne (6-9 315) of New Orleans. Etienne played last season at Fort Scott JC, KS and will play this season at Butler Country JC, KS.
Etienne committed to Ole Miss in the summer of 2018 but ended up signing with Nichols State the following February. But he later in the year he enrolled at Fort Scott where he played the 2019 season.
Etienne is rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports but is ranked as the #1 junior college offensive tackle in the country. He also has offers from Texas Tech, Arkansas, East Carolina, Oregon, Houston, UCF, Ole Miss, Austin Peay, Illinois State, Hawaii and Arkansas State.
The Gamecocks are relatively new in the picture with Etienne and he was happy to hear from them about the offer.
It feels amazing getting a offer from a school I didn’t have coming out of high school and being given that opportunity,” Etienne said. “Now, hopefully I could take a visit sometime soon to check out the program and meet all the coaches.”
Etienne talked first with Gamecock offensive line coach Eric Wolford, then he heard from head coach Will Muschamp. That’s when he got the word on the offer.
“I’ve been talking to Coach Wolford and he’s been staying in touch with me and filling me in about the program and what they have going on there with the Gamecocks,” Etienne said. “I also talked to the head coach today. He is the one that offered me. He talked to me also about how they want me to be a part of their program and stuff. They were impressed by watching my film. They like how I use my length and strength towards other people to keep them on the ground.”
Etienne, who said he’s “not really” related to Clemson star running back and Louisiana native Travis Etienne, has not settled on any favorites at this point and is “weighing out my choices.”
Etienne played in seven games last season at Fort Scott. He plans to graduate in December from Butler and he will have three years to play two at the next stop.
