A little over two years ago, Jacob Saylors entered the United Football League (UFL) as a relatively unknown back. The East Tennessee State University product was searching for his break in professional football – hoping it could come with the St. Louis Battlehawks, one of the league’s top organizations.
Two years later – and he is now poised for a breakout year with the Detroit Lions. He is currently the team’s RB2, with an injury to Isaiah Pacheco in their backfield. How did he get here, and what role did spring football play? Let’s take a close look.
In 2024, after a slow start in St. Louis, Saylors locked in. He had a breakout performance in week three against the San Antonio Brahmas, which paved the way for him to start the remainder of the year at running back. With Mataeo Durant going down with an injury, it opened the door for Saylors to see even more playing time.
Jacob ended up rushing for 537 yards and five touchdowns during the 2024 UFL season. He earned All-UFL honors, which resulted in a couple of NFL opportunities that preseason with the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns.
Saylors ultimately returned to the UFL in 2025, but getting another foot in the NFL’s door was quite beneficial. Jacob went on a rampage in 2025, once again earning All-UFL honors. He had three rushing touchdowns in just one game against the Brahmas, ultimately posting 538 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Jacob’s versatility was on full display, racking up 272 receiving yards. He was also featured on special teams on occasion. Saylors took full advantage of his UFL opportunity – and the Detroit Lions took notice.
Dan Campbell and the Lions have seen plenty of spring ball action. Their kicker, Jake Bates, came from the UFL’s Michigan Panthers. When Jacob made his way to Detroit, many expected him to simply be a camp body. This was not the case.
Saylors rushed for 112 yards during the preseason, while displaying his ability to return, with four returns for 104 yards. Jacob actually made Detroit’s final roster, primarily maintaining his spot on the team as a kick returner, with 897 yards on 33 returns in 2025.
Now, the focus is for Jacob to be a more integral piece of Detroit’s offense – an upgrade that he most certainly earned. This past preseason, Saylors was outstanding in the backfield. He had 31 carries for 187 yards, averaging 6.0 yards per carry. Jacob had an incredible 80.1 Offensive Grade (via PFF) in those three games.
As the NFL season kicks off this week, expect to see plenty out of Jacob Saylors this season in Detroit. The Lions will play the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, at 1pm ET.
Without the national platform and developmental coaching the UFL provided him with, who knows if this career takeoff would have been possible. You can stay up to date on all UFL to NFL signings with our official tracker.
Are you excited to see Jacob Saylors take the field with Detroit this season? Which UFL player deserves a shot? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
