Why Jackson State football will rely on backups at running back in home opener vs Lane

Jackson State football coach T.C. Taylor gave an update on running backs Irv Mulligan and J.D. Martin during Tuesday's press conference.

Taylor said Mulligan and Martin, who did not play in Saturday's 30-14 loss to UL Monroe , will be be out for JSU's home opener against Division II opponent Lane (6 p.m., SWAC Network) on Saturday but should be cleared in a few weeks.

"I want them to be ready when they know they're ready," Taylor said. "I know what they bring to the table once they touch the turf. What matters to me is getting them ready for conference play."

JSU's first SWAC game comes at home against Southern on Sept. 14.

"They're upright, out there moving around, playing good football right now," he said, "but we're just taking our time with them. You know, getting ready for the games that matter."

JSU (0-1) started Ahmad Miller and Travis Terrell Jr. at running back against ULM (1-0). They combined for 58 yards rushing and 70 yards receiving.

Mulligan, who announced his return to JSU in February, was the team's leading rusher in 2023 despite missing much of the second half of the season because of an injury. He rushed for 674 yards on 122 carries, including five touchdowns, alongside Martin, who recorded 31 rushes for 204 yards. Martin was limited to four games by injury.

Taylor impressed by freshman running back Travis Terrell Jr.

With Mulligan and Martin out, Taylor had two options in the rushing game: Miller and Terrell. Miller led JSU in rushing with 46 rushing yards on nine carries, but Terrell was utilized heavily in his first collegiate game.

"Anytime you got a freshman, you can put that much weight on him as a football player at the running back position," Taylor said. "He showed that he has maturity. He brought physicality to the game, as well. He came out there and played hard, played physical, like we asked him to. He's a very explosive player."

Terrell finished game one against ULM with six receptions for 45 yards, six rushes for 12 yards and two kick returns for 34 yards.

MORE JSU FOOTBALL: What Jackson State coach T.C. Taylor said about quarterback Jacobian Morgan after ULM game

T.C. Taylor's biggest takeaways from Thursday's ULM game

Against Jackson State's only FBS opponent on the 2024 schedule and on the roads, Taylor was proud of how his squad fared. Some areas he wants to improve include penalties and finding ways not to beat yourself in games.

Such as Jacobian Morgan's first interception of the season. After a pass to Fabian McCray, the ball slipped out of McCray's hands and into a ULM defender, halting a promising drive.

Or a face mask penalty on a third and long, which would have stopped ULM and forced them to punt instead, resulting in a length drive downfield, resulting in a score.

Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez .

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Why Jackson State football will rely on backups at running back in home opener vs Lane