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Clemson trio in the mix for national awards

The second-ranked Clemson Tigers have several players who are making the cut for several national awards.
Credit: Joshua S. Kelly, USA Today

Three Clemson players continue to make the cut for national awards.

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Travis Etienne has been named a semifinalist for the 2018 Doak Walker Award, which annually honors the nation’s top college running back.

One of 10 semifinalists, Etienne has rushed 127 times for an ACC-best 1,076 yards with 15 rushing touchdowns and caught nine passes for 56 yards with a receiving touchdown. Entering this week’s contest against Duke, he holds Top 10 national rankings in rushing touchdowns (15, fourth), total touchdowns (16, tied for fourth), points per game (9.6, tied for seventh) and yards per carry among qualified backs (8.47, eighth), in addition to producing explosive runs of 20-plus yards (15, second) and 30-plus yards (eight, tied for third) at an elite rate.

Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is one of five finalists for the 2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy which is awarded to the nation's top defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Wilkins

Heading into the 11th game of the season, Wilkins has 40 tackles (10.5 for loss), 10 quarterback pressures, 3.0 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Wilkins also became the first Clemson defensive lineman in the two-platoon era to score a rushing touchdown when he scored on a one-yard touchdown run at Florida State.

In addition to being a Nagurski finalist, Wilkins joins teammate Mitch Hyatt as one of 10 semi-finalists for the Outland Trophy which goes to college football's best interior lineman on either side of the ball. Hyatt, a senior left tackle, already owns Clemson's career record for snaps from scrimmage (3,420) and will break another record with a 53rd career start Saturday against Duke.

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