Former ETSU Buccaneers running back Jacob Saylors has signed a new NFL deal with the Atlanta Falcons as a member of their practice squad.

Saylors played for the Bucs from 2018-22 and is third on the ETSU All-Time Rushing list. He trails only Quay Holmes (4,264) and Brandon Walker (4,095), finishing his ETSU career with 3,851 yards on 608 carries (6.3 avg.) and 33 touchdowns.

Photo of Jacob Saylors at ETSU. (Contributed/nfldraftdiamonds.com)

Following his career at ETSU, Saylors went to the NFL Draft and was selected as an UDFA for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Although Saylors did not make the final roster for Cincinnati, he did get some NFL playing time. During week three of the NFL preseason, Cincinnati played against Washington, and Saylors was able to showcase his talent as a runner and a pass catcher. He rushed for 27 yards on nine carries, catching two passes for 14 yards.

After being waived by Cincinnati, Saylors stayed busy going on workouts with Arizona, New England, Cleveland and Atlanta.

The Marion County High School product now has another chance in Atlanta. Saylors is one of two running backs listed on the Falcons’ practice squad roster. The other is Carlos Washington Jr., who played college ball at the University of New Hampshire before transferring to Southeastern Louisiana University for his final collegiate season. Washington Jr. was signed to Atlanta as a UDFA following the 2023 NFL Draft. He was later waived and reassigned to the Falcons practice squad back in August.

Saylors currently has three running backs ahead of him on the roster, but if any of them are forced to miss time, the Jasper, Tennessee native could be promoted to the active roster. The backs ahead of him are Bijan Robinson (University of Texas), Tyler Allgeier (BYU) and Cordarrelle Patterson (University of Tennessee).