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The Jacksonville Jaguars went through a tumultuous season in 2024-25, finishing with a record of 4-13, and even though it was not the season the team envisioned, one former Callaway star enjoyed a breakout season in the NFL.

Tank Bigsby, who ran for 1,636 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior at Callaway High School, finished the season as the Jacksonville Jaguars leading rusher with 168 carries for 766 yards and seven touchdowns —- all career highs as he led the team in all three categories this season.

“I felt like I’ve grown a lot, but there is still a lot of growing to do,” Bigsby said at a press conference earlier this week. “I’m still learning how the game is and it slowed down for me a little bit this year, so hopefully I can put in the work this offseason and god willing I will come back out here and compete at a high level again. That’s what it’s all about: having fun and competing at a high level.”

Bigsby was the 88th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Auburn, where he played three seasons and finished as the Tigers’ seventh leading rusher of all-time (2,903 yards).

Bigsby’s best game as a professional came early in the 2024-25 season in London. The Callaway alum got his first start against New England on Oct. 20 and helped lead the Jaguars to a 32-16 victory. Bigbsy finished the game with 26 carries for 118 yards and two touchdowns which set his single-game career highs in all categories.

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

Bigsby’s role declined after that as he went through a stretch of three games in late Nov- early Dec. where he touched the ball just 17 times in total. The Jaguars would eventually see Bigsby’s worth and reinsert him into the lineup down the stretch as the sophomore running back finished with double-digit touches in each of the final five games of the season for the Jaguars.

Bigsby and the Jaguars will be undergoing some changes in the offseason. Jacksonville fired head coach Doug Pederson this week and will likely be replacing his entire coaching staff in the coming weeks and months.

“It was a little shocking, as a second-year player learning how this league is,” Bigsby said. “Coach Doug is a very good coach and he taught me a lot of things and I really appreciate what he did.

“We need our own standard and our own identity (this year).”

One of the keys for the Jaguars in the offseason will be how they address the offensive line. That position group really struggled this season (Pro Football Network had them graded out as the 21st-best unit in the NFL). The line’s struggles through the 2024-25 season meant the running game struggled at times, especially to the end of the season.

Bigsby has experienced the highs and lows of NFL life early in his career with the Jaguars. He has watched entire games from the sidelines and started games, seen his team earn a winning record and then win just three games the following season. Bigsby has experienced a lot in two years as a Jaguar and is looking to help steady the ship in 2025.

“I really have faith that we can turn it around next year,” he said.