Deion Sanders

Interviewed on CBS' "60 Minutes," Deion Sanders talked about the opportunities and challenges of taking over the football program at Jackson State.

“I did not expect Sanders to have this kind of impact on the conference,” McClelland said. With a football budget of $4 million, the team had to deal with upgrading the practice facilities. He said he would have to look out for his assistant coaches, who are underpaid. When it would rain, the team had to bus to a local high school to practice. The football team also had a new locker room built. Sanders is one of the greatest athletes of this generation. Jackson State athletic director Ashley Robinson told "60 Minutes" that he heard rumors that Deion Sanders was interested in coaching and offered him a job. “Coach Prime was the biggest hire in football,” Robinson said. That moment made a difference in [Deion Sanders](https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/jackson-state/2022/10/12/deion-sanders-eddie-robinson-swac-jackson-state-football-coach/69557182007/), said Sunday on "60 Minutes." He remembers thinking, "How could a public high school in Texas look better than a college?" “It was relevant,” Sanders told Jon Wertheim, "Because some folks sit back on Twitter with their fingers and talk about what they are going to do, and I wanted to go do it. Parks inspired a movement, and the world came to know [Martin Luther King](https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2022/01/17/martin-luther-king-jr-impact-not-taught-meaningful-way-mississippi/6514916001/).

Jackson State coach Deion Sanders is undoubtedly one of the hottest rising stars in the college football coaching ranks. In an interview with CBS during an ...

[also spoken about the water crisis](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/swac/2022/09/02/jackson-states-deion-sanders-says-water-crisis-bigger-than-football/7973684001/) in Jackson, Mississippi, referring to it as [an issue about "equality." Since then, Sanders has [injected energy into the program](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/bell/2021/04/17/deion-sanders-star-power-paying-off-jackson-state-football/7266362002/), giving it a national relevance that competes with the blueblood programs from the Power 5 conferences. Sanders starred for Florida State from 1985-88 as a cornerback and was eventually drafted fifth overall in the 1989 NFL draft to the Atlanta Falcons. "I love every darn minute of it." The Tigers went undefeated in conference play last season. We'll go in and half the team will come out after halftime."

One rumor that keeps coming up involves Georgia Tech and the potential for Sanders to fill that coaching position vacated by Geoff Collins earlier this month.

Sanders’ looking out for his staff likely will play a role in whether or not he seriously evaluates more prestigious jobs at the FBS level. I got a few people on the staff that has coached in professional football. I’m tryin’ to figure out how I’m gonna say it to you–This is my biggest concern: I have a few people on the staff that has been with me for the last 20 years from when we started with youth football. Sanders’s name has begun to come up for various coaching openings that schools will be looking to fill in the next cycle. “Am I a blessing to him? One rumor that keeps coming up involves Georgia Tech and the potential for Sanders to fill that coaching position vacated by Geoff Collins earlier this month.

During a '60 Minutes' interview, Travis Hunter said Deion Sanders' talk of the opportunity to 'shine a light' on HBCUs brought him to Jackson State.

1 high school football prospect, announced he would sign with [Jackson State](https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/jacksonstatesports/2022/10/15/deion-sanders-jackson-state-football-score-updates-bethune-cookman/69556359007/). Undefeated Jackson State (6-0), ranked No. During the Tigers’ season opener against Florida A&M, Hunter had two passes defended and shut down half the field while holding the Rattler's best receiver, Xavier Smith, to zero catches. “Coach Prime (Deion Sanders) changed my mind,” Hunter said. Sanders said what Hunter's commitment to FSU was normal: a big-time recruit goes to a big-time school. A 6-foot, 170-pound wide receiver and defensive back, Hunter helped Suwanee (Ga.) Collins Hill High School to a state championship his senior year.