Georgia football has had a revolving door of sorts at running back early this season, but Trevor Etienne’s debut Saturday offered reason for optimism.

After serving a one-game suspension, the Florida transfer led Georgia with 78 rushing yards on five carries and had a pair of catches for 14 yards.

Yes, it came against an overmatched FCS opponent in a 48-3 Bulldog win over Tennessee Tech in Sanford Stadium.

Branson Robinson was still happy to have Etienne join the backfield.

“He’s a joy man,” the redshirt sophomore said. “He’s always happy for us. And once he got out there and start running like he did today, we’re more excited than he was.”

Georgia football players react to Trevor Etienne's Bulldog debut

Etienne, the 5-foot-9, 205-pound Jennings, La. native, was held out of the 34-3 win over Clemson last week as a suspension for a spring DUI and reckless driving arrest.

“He worked hard spring, fall camp,” Robinson said. “We were just happy to see him out there and running.”

Etienne got the start and picked up seven yards up the middle on his first run. He went 10 yards on a swing pass from Carson Beck. He lined up deep in the backfield and ran for 10 yards.

He showed breakaway speed by shaking off two tackles before being taken down at the end of a 45-yard run by Toby Bolton a sophomore defensive back, who played for Cedar Shoals and was making a homecoming.

“It opens up a lot,” speedy wide receiver Arian Smith said. “Just like having me out there. People are scared I’m going to run past them. He can do the same as well at running back. He can run through tackles. He can make people miss. It’s hard to guard that and guard receivers.”

Georgia football coach Kirby Smart withholds judgment

Georgia coach Kirby Smart wasn’t ready to declare what Etienne means to the offense against an FCS opponent that couldn’t match Georgia up front.

“I don’t think we know that yet,” he said. “It’s had to tell today, right? Like I wouldn’t judge that on today. I think we’ve got a really good stable of backs. I’m fired up about our backs. I’ve said repeatedly to you guys that we’ve got a great group. Good young, good old, good leadership, good depth.”

Georgia is missing leading returning rusher Roderick Robinson with a toe injury. Freshman Nate Frazier left the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury.

“It’s like a pick your poison type of deal,” said Branson Robinson, who said the touchdown boosted his confidence. “Whatever situation requires we have the back for it.”

Robinson scored on a 13-yard touchdown run — his first since returning from a season-ending ruptured patella tendon in August 2023 — and finished with 22 yards on three carries and had two catches for 16 yards.

Etienne, a preseason All-SEC first-team selection, gives Georgia experience after two seasons at Florida that the others don’t have.

“I think our running back room is really explosive,” quarterback Carson Beck said. “There’s some guys in there that you make one miss and they might be gone.”

Etienne fits the bill.

“I think he has that quick twitch ability,” Beck said. “Really good out of the backfield. I know we didn’t see much of that today, but he’s a really explosive back. That’s an addition to what we already have.”

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Trevor Etienne breaks big run, tops Georgia in rushing in Bulldog debut