Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Callaway alumni Tank Bigsby continues to make strides in the NFL. The Jacksonville Jaguars running back got his first start as a professional on Sunday morning in London, leading the team to a 32-16 victory over the New England Patriots.

“I just got in a rhythm, stayed patient, stayed calm and not getting too anxious and waited for the opportunity to come,” Bigsby said. “When the opportunity comes you have to take full advantage of it.”

Bigbsy, who is in second year in the league, came into the game leading the league in yards per carry with 7.2 (among players that have at least over 30 rushing attempts on the season). While his yards per carry took a slight dip after Sunday’s game, Bigsby ran hard and produced 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the game. 

“We have a bunch of good backs, coach puts us in different positions and we all have to go out there and execute our jobs,” Bigbsy said. “Gotta keep growing as a player and as a team and keep doing what I have to do to help the Jags win.”

His 26 touches against the Patriots were the most of his NFL career.

The first touchdown of the game was crucial as he plunged into the end zone from a yard out to give the Jaguars their first lead of the game (14-10) late in the first half.

The second half was all Bigbsy as he turned 17 carries into 75 yards and a touchdown.

Big things happen when Bigsby gets the ball as was the case at Callaway and Auburn and now in the NFL. This was the fourth time out of seven games this season that Bigsby has led the team in rushing yards.

Bigsby put together his first 100-yard performance of his young NFL career two weeks ago as he helped lead the Jaguars to their first win of the season over the Indianapolis Colts. On Sunday, he put together his second 100-yard showing in the past three games as he began to cement himself as a lead back.

“I just do what I have to do to help the team win,” Bigbsy said. “I just want to come out and help this team win.”

The Jaguars only two wins of the season have come in the games that Bigbsy has eclipsed 100 yards rushing. 

It remains to be seen if Bigsby will be the starter going forward. Starter Travis Etienne was inactive with an injury on Sunday for the first time this season. However, Bigsby has outplayed the usual starter this season, averaging more yards per game and yard per carry than Etienne.

Regardless of whether he is officially listed as the starter going forward, there is little doubt that Bigsby is going to continue to make his presence felt in the NFL.

“He’s done a really good job for us… he has earned the right to be out there and earned the opportunity,” Jacksonville coach Doug Pederson said of Bigsby after the game. “He ran hard, ran tough, ran behind his pads… it was a great effort.”