Etienne has been forthcoming about listing Texas A&M his leader. Multiple sources, however, believe this is a Clemson-LSU battle with the Tigers of the SEC owning a slight edge ahead of official visits to both programs.
Texas A&M has fallen off with Etienne, mainly because the running back competition in College Station is crowded. The Aggies have one running back already committed in 2017 and a quartet of others on the roster.
Following an official visit to Clemson, Etienne will take one to LSU the next weekend, the final weekend before signing day. LSU threw its hat in the ring for Etienne after it missed out on five-star running back Cam Akers in December. There's obviously some in-state lure that LSU has, but it's inaccurate to suggest Clemson's lagging behind considerably in the race to build relationships, considering LSU didn't ignite its pursuit of Etienne until the final days of 2016.
LSU assistants went in-home with Etienne last week before his official visit to Tennessee, and offensive coordinator Matt Canada is expected to go in-home with Etienne on Monday evening, the same day that Swinney conducted his. It will mark the first face-to-face meeting between newly-minted offensive coordinator in Baton Rouge and the four-star prospect. Ed Orgereon is expected to go in-home in the week leading up to Etienne's LSU official visit.-CU 247
Interesting that A&M might be out. Seems to be a TN/LSU battle, Clemson now thinks they get everybody.