Six Buccaneers earned Phil Steele All-Southern Conference honors as the publication announced its postseason football honors on Friday.
Jacob Saylors (Jasper, Tenn.) was first team as a running back, second team in all-purpose and third team as a kickoff returner, while linebacker Chandler Martin (Lithonia, Ga.) and defensive back Alijah Huzzie (Franklin, Ga.) also received first team honors. Huzzie was also second team as a punt returner, while offensive lineman Joe Schreiber (Chanhassen, Minn.) and kicker Tyler Keltner (Tallahassee, Fla.) earned second team honors. Wide receiver Will Huzzie (Duluth, Ga.) landed a spot on the third team.
Jacob Saylors – RB – Jasper, Tenn.
- Started all 11 games, totaling 1,307 rushing yards on 225 carries and 15 rushing touchdowns
- Recorded 21 receptions for 162 yards and one receiving touchdown
- Posted 10 kickoff returns for 232 yards, including a long of 52
- Led the Bucs in scoring (96 points) and all-purpose yards (1701)
- Ranks seventh nationally in all-purpose yards, rushing yards, rushing yards per game and rushing touchdowns, while ranking eighth in total touchdowns
- Eclipsed over 3,000 career rushing yards and 6,000 all-purpose yards this season
- Finished his career with 3,851 rushing yards and 6,058 all-purpose yards and 33 rushing touchdowns
- Had five 100+ yard rushing games, including a season-high 245 yards and three touchdowns at Wofford
- Finished with a career-high 369 all-purpose yards against the Terriers, which led all FCS players this season
- Posted a career-high 32 carries for 172 yards and one touchdown against Western Carolina
- Named SoCon Player of the Week after totaling 225 all-purpose yards and three rushing touchdowns over VMI
- Started all 11 games at center for the Blue and Gold in 2022, while starting 23 straight games dating back to last season
- Named second team all-SoCon by the media
- Played 612 snaps
- Leader of an offense that totaled eight 100-yard rushing games, including four over 200 yards and one over 300
- Bucs rushed for a season-high 325 yards at Wofford and generated a season-high 562 yards of total offense
- ETSU went back-to-back games with over 500 yards of total offense as the Bucs finished with 513 yards versus Samford
- Blocked for Tyler Riddell (Tampa, Fla.) who threw for a career-high 420 yards and five passing touchdowns in that game against Samford … The five passing touchdowns tied a single-game Buccaneer record
- Part of an ETSU offense that averaged 29.4 points per game, which rank third-highest in single-season history
- Started all 11 games for the Bucs
- Totaled 59 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, 16 pass break-ups and 22 passes defended
- Led all FCS players in passes defended and was third in interceptions per game
- The six interceptions were tied for second-most among FCS players
- Had a career-high 12 tackles and a season-high five pass break-ups against Furman
- Recorded an interception in three straight games against Robert Morris, Chattanooga and VMI
- Had a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown in the season-opening win over Mars Hill
- Posted five or more tackles in six games
- Started 10 games at linebacker for ETSU
- Registered a team-best 99 tackles, along with 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four pass break-ups and four passes defended
- School-record 23 tackles against The Citadel, which secured him SoCon Player of the Week honors
- Five games with double-digit tackles
- Recorded sacks against Mars Hill, Chattanooga and Wofford
- Ranked 18th nationally in total tackles, while his 23-tackle game ranked second-most among FCS players
- Appeared in all 11 games for the Bucs
- Went 17-of-23 in field goals and 38-of-38 in PATs
- Totaled 89 points on the season
- Tallied 65 kickoffs for 3,945 yards (60.7 average) with 23 touchbacks
- Became ETSU’s all-time leader in field goals made (56), PATs (131) and scoring among kickers (299)
- Is a perfect 131-for-131 all-time in extra-points
- Earned back-to-back SoCon Player of the Week honors against Chattanooga and VMI
- Tied the ETSU single-game record with four made field goals against Mercer
- Ranks fourth among FCS players in field goals per game (1.55) and 35th in field goal percentage (.739)
- Season-long 49-yard field goal at Mercer
- Tied a career-high with nine kickoffs at VMI and set a new career high with 553 kickoff yards against the Keydets
- Started all 11 games, finishing with 42 receptions for 541 yards and six touchdowns
- Led the Bucs in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns
- Was tied for ninth in the SoCon in receptions per game (3.8)
- Tied a career high with eight receptions and set a career high with three touchdowns against Samford
- Had a season-high 128 receiving yards against the Bulldogs, marking the second-highest single-game total for his career
- Opened the season with five catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Mars Hill
- Followed that up with five catches for 51 yards and a touchdown at The Citadel
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