JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (May 19, 2023) – The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) announced its 2023 All-American Athlete awards, and Max Evans (Middletown, Ohio) and Jacob Saylors (Jasper, Tenn.) of ETSU football received the honor. 

This award recognizes their athletic accomplishments and their dedication to strength and conditioning. Nominated by Coach Dave Lawson and Coach Josh Taylor, both Evans and Saylors determination to improve in athletics while maintaining academic prominence is a great model for all student-athletes at ETSU.

Over the last three seasons, Evans has played in all 30 games totaling 87 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Evans is a four-time SoCon Honor Roll member and has been named to the SoCon All-Academic Team the last three seasons. The Middletown, Ohio native was named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team in 2020.

Saylors, a first team all-SoCon performer, started all 11 games for the Blue and Gold this past season, totaling 1,307 rushing yards on 225 carries and 15 rushing touchdowns. The Jasper, Tenn. native registered 1,701 all-purpose yards as he also recorded 162 receiving yards and 232 kickoff return yards. Saylors finished the regular season ranking seventh nationally in all-purpose yards, rushing yards, rushing yards per game and rushing touchdowns, while ranking eighth in total touchdowns.

Saylors eclipsed over 3,000 career rushing yards and 6,000 all-purpose yards in 2022. Saylors finished his career with 3,851 rushing yards, 6,058 all-purpose yards and 33 rushing touchdowns. The Buccaneer leader had five 100+ yard rushing games, including a season-high 245 yards and three touchdowns at Wofford. Saylors finished with a career-high 369 all-purpose yards against the Terriers, which led all FCS players during regular season play. 

Saylors signed free agent deal with the Cincinnati Bengals following the 2023 NFL Draft. 

Below are comments from Coach Taylor on Evans.

Max Evans is one guy who is consistent all the way around – from being coachable throughout the game of football, to the level of effort he performs at daily in the weight room and the success he has had in the classroom. Max exemplifies the character and attributes of what we strive to uphold here at East Tennessee State University for all of our All-American Athletes and continues to work effortlessly to be a good leader for him and his peers.

Below are comments from Coach Lawson on Coach Lawson.

Jacob Saylors is a consistent hard worker. He is a very coachable student-athlete that seeks out those things that may help him improve on any weakness while continuing to work hard on his strengths. He is a very good team leader that is always out in front leading the way. His one great attribute is that his is very competitive and demonstrates unrelenting grit when performing on the football field.

About the NSCA

Founded in 1978, The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is a nonprofit association dedicated to advancing the strength and conditioning and related sport science professions around the world.

The NSCA exists to empower a community of professionals to maximize their impact through disseminating evidence-based knowledge and its practical application by offering industry-leading certifications, research journals, career development services, networking opportunities, and continuing education. The NSCA community is composed of more than 60,000 members and certified professionals throughout the world who further industry standards as researchers, educators, strength and conditioning coaches, performance and sport scientists, personal trainers, tactical professionals, and other related roles.

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