Following the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft, plenty of talent remained on the board, and free agency began. This is a period in which players who were enrolled in the draft but were not selected become free agents and have a chance to sign contracts with teams. 

ETSU RB Jacob Saylors (Jasper, Tenn.) and former Bucs TE Nate Adkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) have received NFL deals.

ETSU running back Jacob Saylors reached a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals as a UDFA, collecting a $10,000 signing bonus.

Saylors, who rushed for 3,833 yards and 33 touchdowns during his time at ETSU, will head to training camp in the Queen City to compete for the third-string job behind Joe Mixon and fellow rookie Chase Brown. 

Chase Brown (London, Ontario) was selected in the fifth round of this year’s draft from the University of Illinois.

Former ETSU tight end Nate Adkins was also signed as a UDFA with the Denver Broncos.

Adkins, who last wore the Buccaneer uniform in the 2021 season before transferring to South Carolina, played a vital role in the ETSU offense.

Adkins cemented himself as a standout player for the ETSU Buccaneers during the 2021 playoffs versus Kennesaw State when the Bucs came back to win 32-31 after being down 31-17 with just 1:50 left in the fourth quarter.

In that playoff game, Adkins had seven receptions for 94 yards, including his 2-point conversion catch that gave the Bucs their 32-31 lead.

Last year on Nov. 8, 2022, former ETSU running back Quay Holmes (Powder Springs, Ga.) signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.

Holmes broke multiple records during his four-year tenure at ETSU, leading the University in All-Time rushing yards (4,264) and touchdowns (45). 

For more information about ETSU Football, visit the ETSU Football website.

Photo of Nate Adkins. (Contributed/ETSU Athletics)