Caleb Etienne, OT, BYU
Size:
Height: 6’8” | Weight: 320 pounds
Accomplishments:
NJCAA All-American (2019)
“Caleb Etienne has all the tools to be successful. Improving his physicality, leverage, and footwork will go a long way in turning himself into a starting NFL tackle.”
Strengths:
Elite size and length
Functional athlete
Shows flashes of strong ability in both phases
Concerns:
Plays too tall and out of base
Inconsistent in both phases
Technically unrefined
Film Analysis:
Caleb Etienne’s college football journey began at Butler Community College, where he quickly made his mark as one of the top JUCO linemen in the country. He went on to join Oklahoma State in 2021 and earned a starting role the following year. After a season filled with growth and challenges, he decided to transfer to BYU, where he currently shines as the starting left tackle. Throughout his career, Etienne has experienced his fair share of ups and downs.
His 2022 film at Oklahoma State showcased the potential he has as an NFL tackle. Although he faced struggles in his first season at BYU, he has rebounded and is now having a season that could put him on the NFL radar come April.
Etienne possesses the ideal size, length, and at times, flashes high capabilities as a potential NFL tackle. Although it’s a challenging evaluation, I see a path to success for Etienne in certain situations.
Relative to the rest of his game, Etienne's strong suit is protection. He makes a concerted effort to play with length and utilize his hands. He could improve the consistency and timing of his strikes, but his size helps him overcome many challenging situations. I’ve seen him win and recover with his feet, but I’d love to see him demonstrate more pre-snap recognition. I have questions about Etienne’s pre-snap process in adjusting his pass set to varying alignments. At times, he carelessly oversets or allows a soft edge. Nonetheless, he is generally effective at getting out of his stance and can post inside when needed.
One of the most significant areas for improvement for Etienne is his leverage. In protection, he tends to rise higher with each pass set, exposing his chest. His hands aren’t accurate or disruptive enough right now for him to play as tall as he does. Against NFL pass rushers, he’ll need to be able to sink below the point of contact rather than be elevated by it.
His leverage deficiencies are most apparent as a run blocker. His footwork and pad level, especially as a combo blocker, need improvement. His steps are inefficient and don’t often seem catered to the defensive look he’s given. He uses his hands reasonably well in the run game, but his stature and shape during the drive phase often leave him without a solid base. Despite this, Etienne has shown relatively frequent flashes of strong landmarks and angles on defenders in various schemes. He can churn his feet on contact, and his size is often overwhelming for defenses.
It’s difficult to predict what kind of professional football player Etienne will become. The best parts of his game have yet to be unlocked, but they are certainly there. The BYU staff has quickly developed him, and I expect that there will be teams at the next level who see a player who checks many boxes. I anticipate Etienne will be drafted in April by a team looking to redshirt him and develop his game over time before expecting consistent playing time.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Exposures: SMU (2024), Oklahoma State (2024), UCF (2024), Utah (2024)
