Etheridge attended
Charles Henderson High School in
Troy, Alabama. He initially played basketball and baseball before ultimately deciding to focus on football. Etheridge grew up watching Auburn and
Alabama football and began to dream of playing for Auburn after watching the programs
2004 team and becoming enamored with the programs sense of "family and tradition". Etheridge remained a strong contributor for the Tigers as a sophomore, recording 75 tackles and one interception. In his junior season he suffered a neck injury while attempting a tackle in a game against
Ole Miss. Following the injury he lacked control over his body and was ultimately diagnosed with torn neck ligaments and a broken vertebrae. In 2010, he was named a team captain, started all 14 games and would have three interceptions on the season including one in the first quarter of the Tigers
national championship victory over
Oregon. In 2012, Etheridge was awarded the James Owens Courage Award, which is awarded to an Auburn player who demonstrates "courage in the face of adversity". ==Coaching career==