For Bucs senior running back Jacob Saylors (Jasper, Tenn.), preparing for another season of football is a routine that he has recited many times. However, the Southern Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year will have a larger role this season as he is expected to be atop the depth chart for the running back position.
“I began playing football at the age of five. I have an older brother, and without a father in the household, I just always wanted to be like him,” Saylors said of his beginnings in the sport.
It is clear to see by his interaction with teammates that the running back has a lot of friends in the locker room, which may prove unfortunate to defenses that face a tight-knit Bucs offense.
“I found love in the game with my teammates. The ability to line up across from someone to try to tear their head off and then head to the locker room and be best friends with them, there’s not many sports like it,” said Saylors.
Coming off one of the most successful seasons in the football program’s history, Saylors should see an uptick in snaps following former Bucs running back Quay Holmes. The team would not only lose their No. 1 running back during the off season, but also a head coach.
The Bucs football program was left with a coaching vacancy following the sudden retirement of head coach Randy Sanders.
“After meeting coach Sanders and seeing the type of person he is, I wanted him to be my coach and I got blessed that this year we found another great [coach] in Coach (George) Quarles,” Saylors said in regards to navigating the coaching changes during the off season.
Saylors enters the 2022 season with 2,544 career rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns with the Bucs. With 1,019 of those yards coming in the 2021 season, he also tallied up 10 rushing touchdowns and 720 return yards last year.
“Compared to last year, I feel better. We’ve really grinded this off season. I feel like this has been the best off season our team has had since I’ve been here,” said Saylors. “We have a great group of guys, and I am excited to see what we do in the fall. The sky is the limit.”
The No. 11 ranked Bucs will kick off the season under the lights at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium on Sept. 1, against the Mars Hill Mountain Lions. The kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
