Jacksonville’s Backfield Battle Could Reshape Under Liam Coen

Liam Coen is in town, and change is already in the air. While most eyes are fixated on how Jacksonville’s new head coach will elevate Trevor Lawrence and a revamped passing game, there’s an equally compelling subplot brewing in the backfield. For the first time in Travis Etienne’s career, his spot atop the depth chart is no longer a given—and it has little to do with his talent.

Etienne is coming off his least productive NFL season: just 558 yards on 150 carries and a pair of touchdowns. He was never fully himself in 2024, struggling with nagging injuries and inconsistent usage. Meanwhile, Tank Bigsby quietly seized the lead role, racking up 766 yards and seven touchdowns on 168 carries in his sophomore season. With his downhill style and nose for the end zone, Bigsby became the engine of a ground game that lacked identity early on.

Now enter Coen, whose offense with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers thrived on multiple backs, balance, and creativity. He doesn’t need a “bell cow”—he wants versatile, explosive contributors who can do damage from anywhere on the field. That brings us to the rookies.

Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen both arrive with distinct skill sets and a shot to turn heads. Tuten, a speed merchant with a 4.32 forty, carved his way from North Carolina A&T to Virginia Tech and earned All-ACC honors after totaling 1,851 yards in two seasons. His school-record 266-yard performance against Boston College was no fluke—he’s a legitimate home-run threat with return value, too.

Allen, meanwhile, comes with a polished resume from Syracuse. A two-time 1,000-yard rusher and elite receiver (119 catches, 848 yards), Allen gives Jacksonville a weapon out of the backfield unlike anything currently on the roster. His 20 total touchdowns last season—second-most in Orange history—underscore his red zone value.

With Coen at the helm, expect an open competition and plenty of mixing and matching. Etienne still has the talent to bounce back, but Bigsby’s emergence and the rookies’ upside make this one of the most competitive rooms in camp.

For the Jaguars, it’s no longer about who starts. It’s about who fits—who complements the scheme, keeps the offense balanced, and finishes games strong. Don’t be surprised if this becomes a four-man rotation. The only thing clear right now? Coen’s running back room is deeper—and more uncertain—than ever before.