Portions of this story courtesy of sfajacks.com

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Bugs Mortimer made more than his fair share of big plays last fall in his first season as a member of the Stephen F. Austin football program. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida, native authored a 2025 highlight package that was more than worthy of the consensus All-American status that was bestowed upon him. However, the biggest play by Mortimer is one he recently made off the field. With his final collegiate season nearing, the electric return man delivered a selfless, life-saving act. 

During the 2025 season, Mortimer participated in the National Marrow Donor Program's (NMDP) "Get in the Game" donor recruitment campaign hosted by SFA's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee on the University's campus. The program "uses the power and influence of college athletics to recruit students to join the NMDP Registry as potential blood stem cell donors." His participation proved to be life changing, both for the recipient and the football player. 

"I get home after the season, around mid-December, and I get a call saying I could possibly be the match [for someone in need of a blood stem cell transplant]," remembered Mortimer. "I don't know what's going on because a simple swab went from just that, to me possibly being a match for someone in need."

Despite the initial uncertainty following the phone call, and after being talked through the potential next steps, Mortimer's "yes" was certain and it put in motion a memorable journey. "If someone's in need of me possibly saving their life, I was all for it." 

However, it wasn't as simple as just saying "yes." The process didn't lack difficulties for Mortimer, who upon arriving back to Nacogdoches this past January, began a series of blood drawings to ensure that the donation would be safe for him to follow through with and that the donated cells would successfully aid the patient. 

Mortimer's first attempt at giving blood resulted in him passing out and the second attempt nearly ended in the same result. While doubts began to arise around Mortimer's ability to safely donate, he was determined to see it through. "I told them [medical professionals] that I must do it because of the possibility of being a match. I was so determined to just get it done. I got it done. The medical team supported me very well. They took care of me throughout the process, made me feel comfortable and was there for me through it all." 

Working to keep himself performance ready and knowing that the time he would commit to the process and the recovery period would cut into his workouts with the team, Mortimer pushed himself and his teammates even more. "I love workouts. I don't like missing workouts. I love to push my teammates every day and l love when they push me."

Mortimer, who was the department's male recipient of the Sharpen the Axe Award for weight room excellence this past spring, will don the single-digit number nine jersey this fall for the second-straight season after being selected as a team captain. He didn't need to prove to his teammates that he would keep up with his training, but that didn't stop him from "showing up every day."

He noted, "Giving them [teammates] my all, going 110%, making sure that God lefted me and righted me and just pushing each other to be the best versions of ourselves."

The finality of the process led to "pure excitement" for Mortimer. "I was so joyful to know that I decided months ago to go through this process, face my fear of needles and just stay determined through the process. It was a blessing to have matched with a recipient."

An impactful first campaign in the Piney Woods saw Mortimer, who had previous stops at Louisiana Monroe and Western Michigan, set the single-season program and Southland Conference record for punt return yards with 547 and lead all NCAA divisions with four punt return touchdowns last fall on his way to a plethora of postseason recognition at the national level.

So, what does the 2026 season look like for Mortimer? More honors and on-field recognition aren't at the top of the to-do list for one of the top returning playmakers in the FCS who was recently named to the 2026 Walter Payton Award Watch List. "My goal for the upcoming season is to be the best Lumberjack that I can be for me and my teammates. Coming to work every day, giving them my all…just being myself, knowing who I am and knowing what I can do." He added, "motivating the ones around me to push me to be the best version of myself. If we push each other to be the best, we will have fun."

Mortimer mentioned the relationship-building aspect of head coach Colby Carthel's program being one of the first things that stood out to him during his recruiting process. The tight-knit locker room, a gridiron family for Mortimer, was built by valuing relationships. "Each and every day, we know why we're going hard for this person because we know that this person has been through this and this person has been through that." 

The journey, for its impactful, life-changing results and tough character-exposing moments, will stick with Mortimer for a lifetime. He carries a grateful approach into his final collegiate campaign.

"Yes, I love football. Yes, I have a passion for it, but sometimes we have to make a big decision that can not only change our lives, but change someone else's life," remarked Mortimer. "Going through this process made me look at the game of football a little different, because you never know what life might bring. You never know when something may happen, so you have to cherish it every day and just be grateful that God is allowing us to play this game that we love to play."