Former East Tennessee State running back Jacob Saylors has made the official 53-man roster for the Detroit Lions. With the Lions dealing David Montgomery to Houston, that opens the door for Saylors to be the No. 2 back behind Jamhyr Gibbs.
Not necessarily. Meeting with the media Monday in the Motor City, Lions coach Dan Campbell said the No. 2 back duty will be split between Saylors and converted safety Sione Vaki.
“It’s by committee,” Campbell told reporters in Detroit. “I see Vaki getting some reps too. I don’t see it like Saylors is running back twp. Saylors brings special teams value and there’s things he’s been able to do. We’ve seen more of him than Vaki in games, preseason games, but Vaki had some pretty good reps in practice, and we know Vaki is a very valuable special teams player, too. But we feel like Vaki is ready to take some of this on as a runner and pass protector and receiver. So we feel good with either one of those guys in there when Jah needs a breather.”
Saylors isn’t the only other former Buc on an NFL roster as the start of the season approaches. Nate Adkins, who finished his career at North Carolina, is a tight end for the Denver Broncos.
You can find several other local athletes, and former ETSU players, on practice squads.
That group includes:
- TE James Mitchell (Big Stone Gap/Union/Virginia Tech), Dallas
- LB Jaden Keller (Bristol/Tennessee High/Virginia Tech), New York Jets
- DB Alijah Huzzie (ETSU), Houston
- LB Chandler Martin, Giants
Another local, Justin Hamilton (Clintwood/Virginia Tech) is the cornerbacks coach for the Patriots.
Check out our complete list of Tennessee Vols in the NFL, including practice squads,
Women’s Soccer
Cayden Norris (Johnson City/Science Hill) allowed a goal Sept. 3 at Virginia in a match that ended in a 1-1 tie, then came back Sunday to post the clean sheet against Northwestern. Norris has made seven saves this season, with a 0.35 goals against average. The Lady Vols open their Southeastern Conference schedule Friday at LSU.
College Football
Ben Shrewsbury (Jonesborough/Daniel Boone/VMI) had five punts for a 43.2 yard average, including a long of 56 yards, as the Keydets were routed 73-3 by Virginia Tech. However, Shrewsbury also had two punts blocked, with one recovered by the Hokies for a touchdown.
Shrewsbury didn’t punt at all in the second half, which began with Tech leading 45-0. It was the most lopsided loss ever for the VMI program.
Volleyball
ETSU is still seeking its first win of the season at 0-5, but Makayla Bays remains a strength in the middle of the lineup for the Bucs. Bays (Gate City) leads the team in kills with 74, which is tied for fifth in the Southern Conference through all games played Sept. 7. She also has 58 digs, second-most on the squad, and six block assists.
Cross Country
Jenna Hutchins (Johnson City/Science Hill/BYU) finished third in the UVU Collegiate XC invite, running the 3-mile race in 15 minutes and 44 seconds flat.
Women’s Basketball
Andrea Flores (Daniel Boone) will wear No. 20 for Mississippi State.