‘Champion’ is a word sports fans associate with trophies, cups and accolades. For senior running back Jameson Chesser, the word ‘champion’ is an identity or an image to be reflected.
A film and media production major and public relations minor, Chesser began his collegiate football career at Taylor’s bitter rival, Indiana Wesleyan, where he mainly ran in special teams coverages. He earned time in the backfield in 2022, his sophomore season, rushing for 377 yards and three touchdowns, including a nine-carry, 70-yard performance to help run out the clock in a 61-20 win over the Taylor Trojans.
Despite not being an every-down running back, his contributions in the return game stuck out to one particular coach: Taylor University head coach Aaron Mingo.
During the 2022 season, Mingo stood up and specifically pointed out IWU’s number 22 during a meeting, with no knowledge of who Chesser was. He challenged the Trojans by highlighting him for his energy and technique.
“I think I may have said, ‘there’s nothing special about this kid,’” Mingo said. “Probably some demonstrative thing like, ‘What makes him so special? This is how you’re supposed to play, this is how you’re supposed to run down a kickoff. You see what he’s doing here?’ But…he was a problem on that unit. After that meeting, within the next few days, one of his high school teammates approached me and said, ‘Hey, that’s actually my buddy I played high school ball with.’”
Despite the connections Chesser made and the Wildcats' success, his future began to take precedence over football in his life. His interests leaned towards film, a degree Indiana Wesleyan did not offer, so he began to look elsewhere for his degree.
Two of his best friends from high school, Landon Gallant and Joey Breckel, played football at Taylor and suggested he take a look at Taylor’s film program. Chesser visited the campus in fall 2022, but stayed away from the football program to keep everything above board and honor the commitment he made to IWU.
The film and media department, campus experience and chapel mentality drew him to Taylor, but there was one piece missing. After IWU’s season ended in the NAIA National Championship Series semifinals, he visited Upland on a football-centric visit to see if the athletics would mesh with his education.
Mingo met Chesser during Taylor’s 2023 Silent Night Game after the football season was over and the two instantly clicked, describing their meeting as two people with ‘similar mindsets, similar heartbeats.’ Chesser didn’t visit another college.
“When I came here, I figured they wouldn't know me, but they really did,” Chesser said. “Part of my concern was they wouldn’t see any of my film, but they knew who I was, and dollar for dollar it lined up so that I could be in attendance here and go to school here and play on the team. It was evident from that tour that the coaches were all in for me, and my teammates were all in for me and it was just a no-brainer.”
The Mid-States Football Association (MSFA), Taylor football’s conference, has limitations on athletes transferring in-conference to keep competitive integrity. Because he found time on the field at IWU during his sophomore year, Chesser had to forgo playing a single snap, or even putting his jersey on during game day, for his junior year at Taylor.
Despite losing a year of playing time, Chesser put in effort where he could, with the Taylor Athletics film department on game day and on the practice field on off days.
“Coach Mingo looked me in the eye and he said, ‘I just want you to invest in any way you can for this year,’” Chesser said. “I made sure I was the best teammate I could be in practice when it came to the scout team, pushing our defense to be the best they could be, and then whenever game day would roll around, I would travel and I would capture content for Taylor football.”
Without taking a snap, Mingo was never concerned about Chesser’s commitment, calling him “others-focused” and an “all-in guy” who challenged those around him in every practice. Chesser’s off-the-field social media and videography role also helped the team’s public presence and recruiting.
Taylor ended 2023 a disappointing 2-9, and expectations were low for the next year. Before the 2024 season began, the team’s seniors met to discuss things that could be improved. Inside that meeting, Chesser began praying in his mind, asking God to give him a word that could describe how Taylor football should identify themselves. What he received made no sense.
“The only thing I saw in my mind, I could see it, eyes closed, in all bold, capital, Taylor-esque letters, “CHAMPIONS,’” Chesser said. “I was like, ‘Surely not God, because we just went 2-9. Surely we are not champions, would you give me the right word?’ I couldn’t get it out of my head. Champions.”
He shared with the seniors that the Lord had told him “champions” was the team’s identity for 2024. The upperclassmen took it to the roster, stating the word was delivered from the Lord. Chesser credits the team accepting that identity as the linchpin for the seemingly miraculous turnaround the Trojans experienced.
Not only did Taylor football finish with their best record in 25 years, but they flipped the script, going from 2-9 in 2023 to 9-2 in 2024 with their identity of ‘champions’ in hand. No longer on special teams, Chesser was named a team captain and provided the spark that lit the Trojans’ offense in his first and only season as the starting running back.
For the first time since December 3, 2022, Chesser suited up, this time as a Trojan. His first collegiate start came in the opening game against the Siena Heights Saints on August 29. With his quick processing and tackle-shedding abilities, Chesser ran for 106 yards on 18 carries as Taylor defeated the Saints 34-28.
He followed that game with a 27-carry, 206-yard, two-touchdown masterclass against the Olivet Nazarene Tigers. Once again, his exceptional vision and ability to create during broken plays were crucial, as Taylor squeezed out a 58-51 win in overtime.
The incredible performances continued into October during a statement 58-36 win over the Saint Francis Cougars. Chesser carried the ball 26 times for 143 yards with an unreal program record of seven rushing touchdowns. His performance won him his second MSFA Offensive Player of the Week award of the year and the NAIA National Offensive Player of the Week.
Chesser rushed for over 100 yards in a game six times, including the season finale against Concordia, a team playing their final game before their football program closed its doors for good. Fighting through a talented Cardinal front seven, Chesser rushed 27 times for 131 yards and was responsible for Taylor’s two trips to the endzone.
His final touchdown of his college career came on a punch-in from the one-yard line as Taylor’s offensive line gave Chesser a wide gap to earn the game-winning score to put Taylor up 17-7. The Trojans would end the game and their year with a 20-14 win over Concordia.
He finished the season with 1,241 all-purpose yards, 106.7 rushing yards per game and 22 total touchdowns, being awarded Second-Team All-MSFA at the season’s end.
“We were certainly impacted by him (Chesser),” Mingo said. “A huge part of this season’s success, a huge part of what I would say, a cultural enhancement…he was a huge catalyst for that, the type of teammate you would want and certainly the type of player you would want to coach. I’m very grateful for him.”
To add to the accolades and statistical highs of the year, there was one final award with Chesser’s name on it for his athletic and academic performance – the College Sports Communicators NAIA Football All-American of the Year.
Chesser had no idea why his head coach texted him a month after the season ended, asking when they could get on a call with Chesser’s parents. Thinking it would be football or film-related, the last thing he expected was hearing that he would be representing Taylor and the entire NAIA at the Maxwell Awards Gala in Atlanta, Georgia.
“I explained to him…this is the quintessential award when you think of the combination of athletics and academics,” Mingo said. “This is literally the top award there is for being a student athlete.”
Chesser called the honor completely unexpected and a gift from God. Despite his excellent academic record and successful season, he knew there were other athletes with higher GPAs or other running backs with better numbers. Yet, he was named one of four All-Americans of the Year in all of college football.
He was awarded at the College Football Hall of Fame with the three NCAA Division representatives, Saint John’s quarterback Aaron Syverson (Division III), Slippery Rock quarterback Brayden Long (Division II) and the second pick in the NFL draft, Colorado receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter (Division I) at the most prestigious awards night in college football.
Chesser could play for a fifth year, but is choosing not to. His eyes are already on the next steps of his life, including using his film skills for the Lord, working in Kentucky with his older brother Liam and preparing for an engagement with his girlfriend Emily.
“I have responsibilities now that I have to start gearing up to be a husband and how I can support her (Emily),” Chesser said. “I want to go pursue film and the other part of it is I want to be responsible and a steward with where I’m at. That looks like taking care of Emily and ourselves and setting up our future as best I can. So, would another year be really fun, and a privilege and an honor at Taylor? Absolutely, but I know that this is the best next step to be successful moving forward.”
As he steps off the gridiron into a future that may not include pads, helmets and cleats, Chesser’s impact on Taylor football cannot be ignored.
Humble enough to work when he could not play. Bold enough to call Taylor champions when there was no evidence of it. Wise enough to leave the game on his terms.
Jameson Chesser will leave Taylor and graduate as a champion.
