The Giants have added Jacob Saylors, a former United Football League running back who played for the St. Louis Battlehawks in the 2024 season. In a corresponding move, wide receiver Chase Cota has been placed on injured reserve.
During his time with the Battlehawks, Saylors, standing at 5-foot-10 and weighing 199 pounds, showcased his skills with 94 rush attempts for 461 yards (averaging 4.9 yards per carry) and five touchdowns. He also contributed 23 receptions for 152 yards and three additional scores. His impressive performance earned him All-UFL honors, leading all running backs in rushing yards and ranking second in rushing touchdowns.
Saylors, 24 years old, entered the NFL scene after going undrafted in 2023 and initially joining the Cincinnati Bengals. Following a preseason stint with them, where he carried the ball nine times for 27 yards, he subsequently had a period on the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad.
During his collegiate career spanning from 2018 to 2022, Jacob Saylors played five seasons at East Tennessee State, appearing in 51 games. He concluded his time there with impressive stats, accumulating 608 carries for 3,851 rushing yards at an average of 6.3 yards per carry, along with 33 rushing touchdowns. Additionally, he caught 91 passes for 781 yards and scored three receiving touchdowns. Saylors holds the school record for most rushing yards in a single game with 266 yards, achieved during a 2021 victory over Western Carolina.
His outstanding performances earned him accolades such as being named first-team All-Southern Conference twice (in 2021 and 2022) and receiving AP FCS second-team All-American honors in 2021. He was also recognized on the Southern Conference All-Freshman Team after his debut season in 2018.
As for wide receiver Chase Cota, he was signed to a reserve/future contract following the conclusion of the 2023 season.
