Deion Sanders sent shock waves through the college football world when he confirmed that Colorado had indeed offered its head coach position to him. Sanders also mentioned that there were others who are very interested in acquiring his Pro Football Hall of Fame services.
As Sanders and his Jackson State Tigers continue preparation for their second consecutive SWAC championship game at home and unsubstantiated rumors continue to swirl, we thought of some legit places that could lure the reigning Eddie Robinson Award winner away from Jackson, Mississippi.
Could any of these five schools pry Deion Sanders away from Jackson State and HBCU Football? They won’t go away without a fight.
1. Colorado Has Already Offered
Latest reports say this already a done deal. We should find out as early as Sunday or Monday.
The Buffaloes are in dire need of a turnaround. After going 5-19 over the past two seasons, they need a jolt, and Sanders could be just that. Going to CU would provide Sanders the infrastructure to build out his coaching staff and get them more money.
Colorado has offered Sanders more than $5 million annually, according to CBS News Colorado. The offer is said to include some salary-increasing incentives, and though it’s unclear what they are, they supposedly could increase his salary by about 40%
Colorado is a Power Five program that participates in the Pac-12. While the recruiting footprint isn’t the strongest, keeping top in-state prep players would be imperative to have success.
Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler says the state’s top players will stay if Sanders does take the job.
"He's going to change a lot of minds."
Tired of watching Oregon, Michigan and Oklahoma grab Colorado's best in-state prep football talent?
Then you want Deion Sanders in Boulder. Now.@DenverPost column: ⬇️https://t.co/Y2dWEV90n7…#CUBuffs #GoBuffs #SkoBuffs #NCAA
— Sean Keeler (@SeanKeeler) December 1, 2022
2. South Florida Is Home
Sanders is from Fort Myers, Florida, which is less than two hours from the University of South Florida campus located in Tampa. The Sunshine State is a recruiting hotbed and Sanders’ old stomping grounds. It’d be a seamless transition.
3. Cincinnati Is Headed To A Power Five Conference
Having already arrived by virtue of last season’s title run, where the Bearcats became the first Group of Five program to crash the College Football Playoffs, things are looking up in the “Nnati,” despite head coach Luke Fickell leaving for Wisconsin. Cincinnati has also become a place where defensive backs like Sauce Gardner, Coby Bryant and Darrick Forrest become pros. Sanders is considered the best to ever play the cornerback position and would surely be able to lure that elite talent to Cincy, which will be joining the Big 12 on July 1, 2023, another incentive.
Deion Sanders to Cincinnati almost makes too much sense. https://t.co/XqSyfmUlfN
— OutKick (@Outkick) November 29, 2022
4. Stanford Cardinal Need A Reset
With longtime coach David Shaw stepping down after last week’s season finale, the Cardinal are in search of a new leader. Enter Sanders and his ability to connect with student-athletes. His biggest recruiting hurdle in Palo Alto would be the academic demands of the school. But Stanford has the kind of resources that Coach Prime could do wonders with, considering the miracles he’s worked at Jackson State.
5. Florida State His Alma Mater
This is the most far-fetched, with Mike Norvell turning the team around this season to go 9-3. However, Stephen A. Smith did mention on “First Take” that he eventually sees Sanders landing at “Florida State or an SEC school.”
Next season with presumptive Heisman candidate Jordan Travis under center, the ’Noles should be even better and could be a playoff team. But if things go south and the situation presented itself, going back to FSU would be too hard for Sanders to pass up.
There is one important factor that many people ignore when predicting all of these next destinations for Coach Prime.
What About Deion’s Children?
With his son Shedeur as his current quarterback, the expectancy is that if Sanders did leave, he would be taking his newly crowned SWAC Offensive Player of the Year with him. Deion is not going to elevate without his family. He’s worked too hard to get them to this point in their respective careers.
When asked about that specifically Sanders said this:
“Think about what you just said, man.”
“When you do, you do understand how wonderful a question that was.”
Other son Shilo is a rising defensive back with eligibility left, so it’s highly plausible he leaves with dad as well.
The interesting situation would be his daughter Shelomi, a freshman on the women’s basketball team. Her moving with the family isn’t something that Sanders would have much control over, but she came to JSU to be around her brothers and father, so maybe she also transfers.
The possibilities are endless and that’s what Sanders means when he says this drama is a beautiful thing.
But as of now Sanders is prepping his guys for Saturday’s SWAC title game with a trip to the Celebration Bowl on the line. The HBCU world can’t afford to lose him and the momentum he’s established.
