T.C. Taylor, the head coach of Jackson State football, outlines strategies for running backs Irv Mulligan and J.D. Martin.

During Saturday's 33-15 victory over Southern, Jackson State football running backs Irv Mulligan and J.D. Martin made their first appearances of the 2024 season. Both players had been recuperating from leg injuries that sidelined them for the initial two games of the season. JSU head coach T.C. Taylor emphasized that he did not hasten their return, prioritizing their health and readiness for the upcoming SWAC schedule, which commences on September 28 against Texas Southern. With JSU holding a record of 2-1, they are set to face Grambling, also at 2-1, this Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+. Coach Taylor indicated that he would be inclined to utilize Mulligan and Martin in the upcoming match.

The performances exhibited against the Jaguars were commendable. Mulligan spearheaded the rushing efforts for JSU, accumulating 51 yards and scoring a touchdown on 13 attempts, while Martin contributed with 33 rushing yards and 27 receiving yards. "Those players came out and established the tone," Taylor remarked on Monday. "... It significantly enhances the energy within the entire team. Whenever we have two exceptional running backs like that, it renders our offense more formidable." Taylor opted to limit their playing time against Southern, as they had not encountered game contact since the previous season. He also aimed to leverage the depth of the running back position, assigning carries to five different players.

"We had a pitch count on both. You didn't really see a lot of them in the second half," he said. "Those guys hadn't played football since last year. They've been out here running and doing things like that. But to finally get some contact, we had to be mindful of that."

In 2023, Mulligan emerged as the leading rusher for the Tigers, amassing 674 yards on 122 carries and scoring five touchdowns, despite being sidelined for a significant portion of the latter half of the season due to an injury. Martin contributed with 31 rushes totaling 204 yards but was restricted to just four games because of his own injury issues. The influence of Mulligan and Martin's skills and leadership is palpable among their teammates in the locker room, particularly for quarterback Jacobian Morgan, who has shared the backfield with them since the previous season. Morgan expressed his enthusiasm about their return.

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Jackson State football has demonstrated its legitimacy with a significant victory over its rival, Southern. "With that level of talent, it is essential to have them on the field," Morgan remarked following Saturday's match. "Their absence is certainly felt. Therefore, their return and the influence they had on the game were invaluable for the team." Mulligan and Martin are anticipated to take on starting roles in the backfield; however, Taylor indicated that he will also consider Ahmad Miller and freshman Travis Terrell, who together amassed nine carries for 69 yards against Southern.