Deion Sanders Blasts NFL For Lack Of HBCU Rep In Draft

Deion Sanders helped put an HBCU school on the map. As head coach of the Jackson State football program, Sanders’ squad lost just six games over three seasons. That included two perfect seasons in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Additionally, Jackson went 12-1 in the 2022 season, only losing in the postseason Celebration Bowl.

Sanders left Jackson State at the end of the 2022 season to take the vacant job at Colorado. He brought many of his star players with him and has transformed the program there. He has put Colorado back on the map, even if the program is seeing massive player turnover. The school’s spring game sold out for the first time ever. One the flip side, 20 players entered the portal right after the game. It’s a wild time in Colorado. However, Sanders was not happy with the treatment HBCUs got at the 2023 NFL Draft. He took to Twitter to force his frustrations.

Sanders Calls Out 31 NFL Teams

HBCUs are often overlooked on draft day. Just 12 players from such schools were picked between 2016 and 2021. Four went in the 2022 draft. Furthermore, that number dropped to just one over the course of the 2023 draft. The lone HBCU representative in 2023 was Jackson State cornerback and kick returner, Isaiah Bolden. Bolden was selected 245th overall by the New England Patriots, just 14 picks before the end of the draft. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that he was a Coach Prime alum.

Posting to Twitter, Sanders made his thoughts on the lack of HBCU rep very clear. “So proud is you @isaiahbolden23 You deserved to be drafted much higher but I’m truly proud of u. I know how much u want this. I’m ashamed of the 31 other @nfl teams that couldn’t find draft value in ALL of the talented HBCU players & we had 3 more draft worthy players at JSU.” However, Sanders’ comments met a lot of backlash from white people who somehow interpreted Sanders’ comments as a call for affirmative action. HBCUs have long had to deal with being viewed as the “second-tier” in both educational standards and sporting prowess. However, it’s an unfair perception and one that Sanders is putting on blast.

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Deion Sanders Continues Breaking Milestones At Colorado

When Deion Sanders accepted the head coaching job for the Colorado football program, many took notice. Sanders’s recent success with Jackson State caught the eyes of a few Division One programs. However, it was Colorado who took the leap in bringing Sanders in. Since his arrival in Boulder, Sanders has been nothing but a positive impact on the program. The Colorado program was in dire need of a facelift, and they may have found their answer. At least the fanbase is already believing.

The program should have no issue bringing fans to the stadium this season. For the first time since 1996, the Buffaloes have sold their entire allotment of season tickets for 2023. An incredible feat considering the team only won one game last season. However, this is a fanbase starving to see a competitor on the field again. With Sanders, the fans know they will at least have a competitor running the program. Sanders is just as outspoken as a coach as he was a Hall-of-Fame player. For now, it seems to be working just fine with those around the Colorado program.

Deion Sanders Has Colorado Fans Thinking Primetime

Fans may want to temper their expectations for what they expect the product to look like on the field. Turning a football program from worst to first doesn’t happen overnight. It takes momentum and hard work. Which are two things Sanders has already started working on. The Buffaloes currently have the 24th-best recruiting class in the entire country. A feat that wouldn’t have been possible without Sanders running the show. Currently, the team has the second-best class in the entire PAC-12.

The college athletics landscape changes by the day. NIL has been one of the leading charges in those changes. However, it does feel that the sport is slowly moving to a mega-conference model. But that will not stop the same good teams from getting the same good players. However, there could be a new threat to the top of the college football food chain. Do you think Deion Sanders can turn Colorado into a dominant football program again? Let us know your thoughts on the Sanders-Colorado experiment in the comment section. For the latest college football news, keep it right here at HNHH.

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Deion Sanders First Spring Game Set To Break Records

Colorado has yet to play a game in the 2023 college football season, but it’s already one of the game’s hottest programs. That’s thanks to the sensational hiring of Deion “Primetime” Sanders as head coach. Sanders was named head coach in December 2022 after three incredibly successful seasons with Jackson State. Colorado is coming off a 1-11 2022 season and, excluding the shortened 2020 season, hasn’t posted a winning record since 2016.

Sanders turned things around almost immediately. He encouraged players to enter the transfer portal. He brought in the school’s best-ever recruiting class and took big-name players from the portal. Demand for tickets became so intense, long-term boosters were often left without one. Sanders makes bold moves for Colorado as the Pac-12 reaches a crossroads, namely in the impending loss of UCLA and USC. All of Coach Prime’s work will be tested come the start of the season but early signs already highlight the energy in Colorado.

Sanders’ First Spring Game Breaks Records

The first look at Sanders’ new Buffaloes squad will come at the annual Spring Game on April 22. However, unlike previous editions of the annual intra-team scrimmage, a few things have changed. The game will be aired nationally on ESPN. It will be the only Spring Game to air on ESPN’s primary channel and one of only two to air on ESPN’s main channels. Furthermore, the 2023 Spring Game has shattered Colorado records. The game has sold out for the first time in program history. The 45,000+ expected attendance destroys the previous record of 17,800. Additionally, 2023’s expected attendance is higher than the last nine Spring Games combined.

Sanders has taken Colorado from the laughing stock of the Pac-12 to a legitimate threat to the status quo. Colorado was once a dominant football force, winning a National Championship in 1990. Sanders has made it clear that he wants to return the school to its glory and made the moves to kickstart the process. Speaking to ESPN about the game, Sanders set the tone in no certain terms. “I can’t wait for the spring game, really looking forward to it, because I want to see the difference in the atmosphere and the feeling and the spirit of everything,” Sanders said.

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Brittany Renner Reflects On Deion Sanders Inviting Her To JSU: “Doesn’t Feel Good”

Her sexual exploits have been debated among social media users, and Brittany Renner hasn’t been intimidated by the criticism. She faced controversy over her relationship with PJ Washington while he was in college. The basketball star was reportedly 18 when he met the 24-year-old Renner; four years later, the pair welcomed a son. However, it was around the time of the pregnancy that things took a turn, and these days, Washington is engaged to someone else.

Renner has taken hits over the age gap but argued that men don’t receive the same pushback when they date younger. In December 2021, back when he was still coaching at Jackson State University, Deion Sanders raised eyebrows by inviting Renner to speak to his players. At the time, the football coach said the knowledge Renner possessed could help his players understand what was going on in the real world.

Degrading Or Empowering?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 27: Brittany Renner attends a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets at Staples Center on October 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)

Renner was happy to oblige and visited the university for an intimate conversation. However, more recently, she spoke with The Shade Room about the moment, and she may be regretful. It was noted that Sanders’s invitation seemed to more like a warning for his players to watch out for women like Renner. She was asked if that was empowering or degrading for her.

“When I originally agreed to do it, I thought it was empowering,” Renner answered. “[Hindesight], looking now from where I’m sitting? It doesn’t really feel that good.” Elsewhere, Renner also addressed the narrative that she and Washington hate one another behind the scenes. “I don’t know why people even still think the way that they do about that situation.”

Nothing But Love From Brittany Renner

“I love my child’s father to death. I don’t want to be with him” she further stated. “And our son was planned. I thought that was my guy, I guess foolish of me for thinking someone who’s only six years younger than me. Let’s not even get into the age gap… I just genuinely thought that was my person who understood and saw me for me cause he never judged me. That’s how it appeared — that’s obviously not true.”

Deion Sanders Wants Colorado Band To Adopt HBCU Sound & Style

Deion Sanders recently met with the Colorado Buffaloes’ band director to adopt a style more akin to HBCUs. Moreover, many expressed anger and disappointment when Sanders made the call to step down as coach of a historically black university. However, it seems he wants to inject that experience into his current tenure coaching a new football team. Furthermore, Jackson State fans and players were familiar with his line of “Now give me my theme music” at the end of his pregame speech. Now, he suggested that Colorado adopt some of that same sound both on and off the field to boost morale.

At HBCUs, it’s kind of traditional that the bands kind of coincides,” he expressed in a YouTube video from Well Off Media. “I know it’s a difference, but it don’t have to be. We like one big happy family. We’re probably gonna have a new theme song that I want you guys to get and it’s not hard. And I think you can knock it out of the park. It’ll take it to a whole new level when the band is able to execute it. That’s going to be good. Really, really good.”

Deion Sanders Looks To Move Colorado Band In HBCU Direction

Moreover, the NFL star’s new theme would reportedly replace “Here I Go” by rapper Mystikal, although it’s unclear if it will still be incorporated. While he asked for the new music to be played for the group in the video, the audio was removed from the clip. Still, it might not be enough to distract from current hot water he’s in concerning his comments on recruiting. In particular, people thought his discrimination in picking quarterbacks versus defensive players was close-minded.

“Well, we have different attributes,” he remarked on the Rich Eisen Show. “Smart, tough, fast, disciplined with character. Now, quarterbacks are different. We want mother, father. Dual parent. We want that kid to be 3.5 [GPA] and up. Because he has to be smart. Not bad decisions off the field, at all. Because he has to be a leader of men. Defensive linemen is totally opposite. Single mama, trying to get it, he’s on free lunch. I’m talking about just trying to make it. He’s trying to rescue mama. Like mama barely made the flight. And I want him to just go get it.“ As many pointed out, this narrative is unfortunately common among coaches. Regardless of his missteps, check out the full video above and stay tuned to HNHH for the latest on Deion Sanders.

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Deion Sanders Ripped By Twitter For Viral Comments On Recruiting

Deion Sanders is one of the most famous coaches in college football right now. Overall, he is known for winning and turning programs into contenders again. That is exactly what he did at Jackson State. However, he eventually left the HBCU so that he could get a bigger opportunity with Colorado. Now, he is trying to turn that team into a contender again after some poor seasons. Although it is going to be a tough task, there are many who believe that Sanders is the one who can turn that program around.

Recently, the NFL legend was on the Rich Eisen Show where he got to talk about how he recruits his players. While these comments were made weeks ago, they are now starting to viral on social media. In particular, people are taking issue with his recruitment philosophy as it pertains to quarterbacks and defensive positions. “Well, we have different attributes. Smart, tough, fast, disciplined with character. Now, quarterbacks are different,” Sanders said. “We want mother, father. Dual parent. We want that kid to be 3.5 [GPA] and up. Because he has to be smart. Not bad decisions off the field, at all. Because he has to be a leader of men.”

Deion Sanders Speaks

Subsequently, Sanders spoke about what he looks for in his defensive linemen. These are the comments that truly came across as problematic for a lot of people. As you will see, his criteria are completely different, and a bit patronizing. “Defensive linemen is totally opposite,” Sanders explains. “Single mama, trying to get it, he’s on free lunch. I’m talking about just trying to make it. He’s trying to rescue mama. Like mama barely made the flight. And I want him to just go get it.“

In the Tweets down below, you can see just how upset people were with Sanders and his remarks. “A bunch of white folks kee-keeing and it didn’t give him a bit of pause. Yuck.” one user wrote. Another person pointed out the hypocrisy, saying “His own fuckin son not even from a ‘dual household,’” Overall, these comments were not a good look for Sanders. Although, it is being pointed out that every coach thinks this way, which is most definitely problematic. Let us know what you think of all of this, in the comments below.

Twitter Reacts

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Deion Sanders Delivers Tom Brady Hot Take

Deion Sanders is someone with a great understanding of the game of football. He has been around elite-level players for decades and that will continue at Colorado. Overall, Sanders is considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of football. His work in the 90s is always revered and although he doesn’t have seven rings like Tom Brady, he is still an upper-echelon Hall of Famer.

Speaking of Tom Brady, the quarterback recently retired from the game of football. This decision was a bit of a shock to some people, however, others felt like it was time for him to quit. Overall, 23 years in the league is a long time to play. Moreover, with seven Super Bowls to his name, he had certainly done enough. Moving forward, he will get to be an analyst for Fox Sports in 2024. It’s a job that suits him well and fans are looking forward to seeing him on TV.

Deion Sanders Speaks

Head coach Deion Sanders of the Jackson State Tigers walks the field during pregame warmups prior to the Cricket Celebration Bowl against the North Carolina Central Eagles at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Going back to Sanders, he was recently asked an interesting question about Brady. Essentially, reporters wanted to know if he thinks anyone will ever win seven rings again. Simply put, Sanders thinks it is impossible, according to Yahoo! Sports. His reasoning is due to the fact that players don’t take pay cuts to help the roster like they used to. “The reason it won’t happen for quite some time is that … we are at a financial state that I don’t believe that a guy is going to be as humble as Tom Brady and work with his team and take less (money), Sanders said. “This culture wants every darn dime they can get. You have to sacrifice some things to get to be in that position and I don’t think this culture is ready to make those sacrifices.”

Sanders definitely makes an interesting point here. Teams with high-paid quarterbacks have had some issues as of late. Meanwhile, the teams with low-paid young QBs are starting to see sustained success. If Mahomes and the Chiefs win the Super Bowl on Sunday, then the trend will officially be reversed. Let us know what you think of Sanders’s comments, down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sports world.

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Lil Wayne Stunned By Deion Sanders’ Colorado Locker Room Tour

Lil Wayne is one of the biggest hip-hop artists in the entire world. Overall, he is in a lot of people’s top 5s, and he will continue to be for decades. To this day, Wayne remains one of the most respected artists ever, and it has afforded him some cool opportunities. From meeting athletes to billionaires, Lil Wayne has truly seen and done it all. Moreover, he is connected with tons of athletes, who have been able to show him the behind-the-scenes version of what sports can be like.

As it turns out, the latest person to do this for Wayne was none other than Deion Sanders. Over the last few months, Coach Prime has been a huge story around college football. Following his departure from Jackson State, Sanders signed on with Colorado. Moving forward, he is expected to bring this team back to its glory years. Although this is going to be very difficult, Sanders seems up to the task. In fact, with Coach Prime going to Colorado, numerous recruits are following suit. Consequently, this team could be in for an amazing season.

Lil Wayne Gets Blown Away

As it pertains to Wayne, he got to visit Sanders at the University of Colorado facility. College football programs oftentimes have facilities that are more impressive than some NFL squads. In the video above, you can see just how impressed Wayne was with what he was seeing. “Oh, this the locker room? This the fucking locker room? C’mon man!” Wayne exclaimed. “It’ll be hard for a n-gga to feel bad after a loss up in here. I’m telling you that right now.” As you can also tell, Sanders was very happy with Wayne’s reaction. Sanders is doing his best to build something great at Colorado, and there is no doubt that the players will enjoy where they’re spending most of their time.

Overall, building a football program is not easy. However, Sanders did a great job doing so over at Jackson State. Now, he just has to go out and do it all over again at a school that has a few more resources. If he keeps going down this path, Colorado should be on pace for a phenomenal campaign.

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Deion Sanders & Jim Jones Visit Young Dolph Pop-Up Museum

Jim Jones and Deion Sanders

A pop-up museum was curated in honor of the late Memphis rapper Young Dolph, who passed away in 2021. Football coach Deion Sanders and rapper Jim Jones were the first two celebrities to visit the museum. Late Memphis rapper Young Dolph, who was shot and killed in November 2021, was honored with a pop-up museum, called […]

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Deion Sanders Defends Daughter Over “JSU Murders” Claim

Deion Sanders took to his daughter’s defense over the weekend after Deiondra Sanders claimed that there were multiple murders on the campus of Jackson State University (JSU) while her father coached at the school. People quickly fact-checked her comments to find they were blatantly false.

“People don’t know there are killings on the campus … every few months,” Deiondra said.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – FEBRUARY 04: Former NFL player Deion Sanders visits the SiriusXM set at Super Bowl 50 Radio Row on February 4, 2016 in San Francisco. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

In response to the backlash, Deion Sanders admitted that his daughter may be wrong, but added, “Some things we just should let go.” The legendary NFL player coached at the school from 2020 through 2022.

Deiondra later apologized for her comments in a lengthy video posted to Twitter on Sunday.

“I would like to apologize for a statement that I recently made concerning the JSU murders,” she explained. “I do feel like that I over-exaggerated due to the fact that every time I did come to town I was made aware of shootings, murders, robberies on campus, around campus and in the city. But I really do apologize for what I said. It’s just that things did happen while my family was there that the public was not made aware of. But I definitely shouldn’t have exaggerated like that and I do want to say that I apologize for that. So I apologize to the whole JSU community, JSU campus and everyone that’s a part of JSU.”

While there may not have been constant murders, one student died right before Deion announced he would be taking a job at the University of Colorado.

Check out Deion Sanders and Diondra Sanders’ responses on Twitter below.

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