Getty Images
Jackson State coach Deion Sanders believes the NFL needs to do a better job of celebrating the talent coming out of historically black colleges and universities.
Sanders said at Jackson State Pro Day yesterday that while he was pleased to see 22 teams show up, he was unhappy that 10 NFL teams didn’t send out scouts to see his players. Sanders also said last year’s draft, which didn’t pick any HBCU players, was unacceptable.
“This will not happen again. This will never happen again. I know that in the year of the pandemic we have an excuse, but this will not happen again. I want 7-10 players in the draft this year, then we will try to double that number, and then the sky will be the limit,” Sanders said on the NFL Network.
Sanders said he wanted more attention for the HBCU and said the Jackson State spring game would be televised this year. He also said he wants HBCU players — not just players from Jackson State, but players from other HBCUs — to be drafted.
“I need at least four of our schools and their coaches to be represented to bring in a player they think is eligible for the draft, we have to bring them in for the draft. Because I want the kids to see it, I want them to feel it, I want them to touch it, I want them to witness it live so they can say, “I can do it” Sanders said. “NFL Network, come on, do it.”
Sanders did a great job at Jackson State, winning the SWAC Coach of the Year award last year and then stunning the college recruiting world by convincing Travis Hunter, considered by some to be the top player in this year’s recruiting class, to reject Florida State and visit Jackson State. And now Sanders has big plans for how he’s going to bring attention to his program and other HBCU programs.