The Jacksonville Jaguars have no shortage of options in their backfield. While Travis Etienne Jr. is the unquestioned top player on the depth chart, the other options now include third-round pick Tank Bigsby.
The former Auburn Tigers running back joins a running backs room that includes D’Ernest Johnson, JaMycal Hasty, and Snoop Conner.
So who is the new face in the backfield? Here are five things to know about Bigsby:
1. Bigsby was called "Tank" long before he was a running back
“Tank” is a pretty perfect moniker for a running back who brings the heat like Bigsby. But the nickname for Cartavious Bigsby has nothing to do with his football prowess.
His mother, Shaquanna, told the Montgomery Advertiser that his dad gave him the title when he was a toddler.
He constantly ran into things around the house. Sometimes it would knock him over. But it never bothered him. He just got up and kept on going.
One day, when he was around a year old, his father and aunt had an idea. “His name should be Tank.” The fit was perfect.
Both the name and his pinballing from birth were evidently a sign of things to come.
2. The Jaguars had little contact with Bigsby
Like Brenton Strange earlier on Friday, Bigsby was pretty shocked that it was the Jaguars who decided to pick him.
While Bigsby said he spoke to the Jaguars at the combine and at his pro day, it was radio silent in the weeks leading up to the draft. Other NFL teams like the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals brought Bigsby in for a visit, but the Jaguars steered clear.
3. Bigsby also lettered in track in high school
In addition to a ridiculously productive last two years at running back in high school (3,857 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns), Bigsby was on the track and field team.
According to Dane Brugler of The Athletic, Bigsby posted personal bests of 11.15 in the 100 meters, 56.16 in the 400 meters, and long jump of 20 feet, 1.5 inches.
4. Bigsby entered the transfer portal, then stayed at Auburn
The collegiate career of Bigsby was far from smooth. After joining Auburn when Gus Malzahn was head coach, the running back opted to stay when the team fired Malzahn and hired Bryan Harsin at the end of the 2020 season.
Then when several coaches and players left the program after the 2021 season — including starting quarterback Bo Nix — Bigsby entered the transfer portal.
Eventually, he changed his mind and finished his college career where he started.
Tank Bigsby on his decision to stick with Auburn after last season: "I just felt like this school is different… I want to change, and I want to do the things I need to do for Auburn… You have to be a different man to be in this program, because a lot of people don't like us."
— Tom Green (@Tomas_Verde) July 21, 2022
Harsin was eventually fired during the 2022 season.
5. Bigsby took his academics seriously
According to the Montgomery Advertiser, Bigsby told high school coaches that he planned to graduate early. During his first semester at Auburn, he had a 4.0 GPA. Bigsby also earned a spot on the SEC academic honor roll in both 2020 and 2021 before opting to become a professional football player late in 2022.
