SHANE SHOEMAKER
Writer
In the middle of all the usual purple and white last Friday night at Bill Baxter Stadium, there were specks of blue and silver. No, it wasn’t the colors of Marion County’s opponent, Cascade — it was that of the Detroit Lions.
Just before kickoff (and well after), a line of Warrior fans gathered on the track near the 10-yard line of the north end zone, waiting to see Jacob Saylors. The former Marion County running back, now a kick return specialist for the Lions, was invited back to his alma mater to have his No. 8 jersey retired after the first quarter.
If it wasn’t already clear that Saylors, 25, is a beloved figure in his hometown, it certainly was after every autograph he signed — whether it was a football, jersey, or custom shirt with his name and face on it — and every picture he posed for with anyone who asked.
“It means a great deal to me,” Saylors said. “And more so than anything, it’s the people in Marion County. I always talk about how I owe these coaches, this community, these people my life — every single bit of gratitude that I have. Without them, I wouldn’t be in the position that I am, and I wouldn’t be able to do the things I’ve done or overcome some of the obstacles I’ve faced.”
Saylors helped lead the Warriors to their first state title game appearance in 19 years back in 2014, followed by consecutive trips in 2015 and 2016 — all resulting in runner-up finishes. He totaled more than 4,000 offensive yards and 74 touchdowns, along with 18 interceptions as a defensive back during his high school career.
While those numbers would jump off any stat sheet, honoring Saylors was about much more than statistics — it was about how he’s carried himself.
“If you ever met Jacob, he’s one of a kind,” Marion County Quarterback Club President Tim Anderson said.
Anderson recalled how Saylors spent his entire playing career — from youth league through high school — in Marion County. He also spoke about Saylors’ perseverance, how he kept fighting to make teams at every level, from college to the UFL and eventually the NFL, even if it meant just being on a practice squad.
“For us, this was the type of person we needed to recognize,” Anderson said. “That’s a true Warrior for life.”
Undrafted in 2023, Saylors was cut by four NFL teams over the last two years before the Lions finally signed him ahead of this season. Through seven games with Detroit, he’s recorded two carries for 11 yards and 14 kickoff returns for 364 yards, ranking 16th-best in the NFL.
“Truthfully, no,” Saylors said when asked if he ever thought his number would be retired. “It wasn’t something I was sure was within my grasp, and now that I’ve been able to accomplish that, I just hope that I’m able to show the future generations that it’s attainable.”
Saylors is now one of just four players in Marion County history to have their number retired — joining Eric Westmoreland (#5), Eddie Brown (#33), and Joe Cash (#25).
Anderson and Warriors head coach Tim Starkey came up with the idea of retiring Saylors’ number just before the season began. His making the Lions’ roster only made it feel more fitting.
“I was on a cloud,” Saylors said after getting the call. “I felt chills throughout my body. My body was weightless. Still, even right now, I feel like I’m in a dream. It’s something that God’s blessed me with, and I just hope to give Him the glory and do right by Him.”
Photo by Gene Fuller