Ghost of Trevor Etienne is a perception issue more than a production one for Florida

The revenge tour for Florida Football when it came to players who transferred away had more successes than failures in 2024.

Over the past couple of years, Princely Umanmielen transferred to Ole Miss, Jalen Farmer transferred to Kentucky, Richie Leonard transferred to FSU, Trent Whittemore transferred to UCF, and Creed Whittemore decommited from Florida to go to Mississippi State.

Florida beat all of those teams during the 2024 campaign.

However, there is one high-profile player who left Gainesville that Florida was unable to get revenge this year. And while his production was replaceable in 2024, his ghost keeps finding a way to linger around Gainesville.

Florida Football: Ghostbusters

When Trevor Etienne left Florida last year for Georgia, we noted at the time that it was a perception issue versus a production one for Billy Napier heading into the 2024 campaign.

We said:

"Even if one wants to buy into the narrative that running backs are the most replaceable position on an offense, Etienne's decision to hit the transfer portal is emblematic of a deeper problem Napier is facing.

Etienne, a mid-tier three-star prospect out of high school, was plucked by Napier to come to Gainesville. In two seasons, Etienne morphed into an up-and-coming star who could crack 1,500 yards if he was the sole running back in an offense.

He was 54th this season nationally in yards per rushing attempt in games against FBS teams.

And yet, after two seasons with the Gators, despite the fact he would still be a featured player, Etienne looked around at what Napier was building and said, "I'm going to look elsewhere."

According to insiders, it wasn't even NIL money that chased Etienne away. It was the desire to win.

If the star running back who spends every day inside the program doesn't think the Florida Gators will win in 2024, what faith should we as fans have?"

As the 2024 season played out, many of these prophecies came true. Florida wasn't winning until late in the season and Florida was largely able to replace Eitenne's production.

He is currently sitting at 571 yards rushing at 5.1 yards per attempt.

Jadan Baugh had a clip of 5.1 yards per attempt, Ja'Kobi Jackson had 5.4 yards per attempt, and Montrell Johnson had 5.9 yards per attempt in 2024.

Combined with the offseason arrest that led to him getting suspended for the season opener against Clemson, the reality is Florida's running back room was just fine without Etienne in 2024.

And yet...

Florida fans had to watch Georgia hoist the SEC championship on Saturday after Etienne returned from injury to score two touchdowns, including the game-winner, against Texas.

And after hoisting the trophy, Etienne said:

"I've never been part of something like this. This is why you come to Georgia."

Billy Napier has a lot to sell to guys in the transfer portal for 2025, mainly the chance to play with DJ Lagway. But it would be naive to think that one or two players aren't going to ask, "So... the only other place Etienne has been a part of is Florida. What did he mean by that?"

And this is why the ghost of Etienne is going to continue to linger around whether or not fans want to admit it. If Napier is forthcoming with transfer portal prospects and the price is right, Etienne's comment becomes background noise we all forget.

But if Napier trips over his answer, don't be shocked if a couple of targets look elsewhere.