The Jackson State Tigers are preparing to face the FAMU Rattlers on Sept. 4, in Miami. The game dubbed theOrange Blossom Classic will go a long way in determining who wins the SWAC Eastern division crown.
Last season, in a rain-soaked affair, the Tigers outlasted the Rattlers 7-6. The one-point victory being the difference in JSU playing for and winning the SWAC championship.
Led by Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders the reigning Eddie Robinson Award winner and his son Shedeur the reigning Jerry Rice Award winner (top freshman in FCS), the Tigers have their leader on the sidelines and on the field as they prepare to began an historic 2022 campaign.
But Coach Prime wants to make sure that his offense doesn’t miss a beat if something sidelines Shedeur. Prime is seeking a more than formidable insurance policy and is surveying his choices. A player who seems to have a leg up on the others is former three-star recruit J.P. Andrade, an Ohio State transfer. But here’s the kicker, Andrade is Caucasian, and out of high school turned down scholarship offers from South Alabama, Fordham and Morehead State. Instead, he opted to walk on at Ohio State.
Lord, let them see more of you and less of me. Committed to Jackson State University. Let’s get to work! pic.twitter.com/ZR5kek003S
— JP Andrade‼️ (@JPAndrade12) February 2, 2022
Andrade Is The Favorite, Although Coach Prime Is Trying To Keep The Intrigue
Andrade is a pro-style quarterback much like JSU starter Sanders, and while Coach Prime makes it sound like an open competition, Andrade will have to fall flat on his face to not land the gig. And he transferred to JSU for this exact opportunity.
“It’s a heck of a fight to see who’s the two. It’s going to continue for another couple of weeks,” Coach Prime said. “We have to find a quality backup quarterback. We have them on campus. We have them here. We just have to see who’s going to take that next step and separate themselves from the others.”
Andrade has the physical makeup that Sanders wants, standing 6 feet 5 and 215 pounds. He also possesses a very good arm, which is needed to make all the throws in new offensive coordinator Brett Bartolone’s uptempo, pro-style spread attack.
Welcome John Paul Andrade to #TheeILove
6-2, 210 pound quarterback#IBelieveJSU22 x #NSD22 pic.twitter.com/4C0HEX0Beh
— Jackson State Football (@GoJSUTigersFB) February 2, 2022
Andrade Played In A Similar System At Ohio State
The system Andrade spent three seasons in at Ohio State is very similar to what the Tigers are gonna be running this year under offensive coordinator Brett Bartolone. The offense will look to stretch the defense using the entire length and width of the field in an effort to get the football into the hands of their playmakers with as much space to operate as possible. Sort of like what we saw the Buckeyes do last year with Heisman finalist C.J. Stroud and his talented wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, two 2022 NFL draft first-round picks.
The Tigers will look to do the same thing with Sanders and his weaponry: Malachi Wideman (12 TD catches), impact freshmen in Kevin Coleman (No. 44-ranked recruit in the 2022 class) and two-way sensation Travis Hunter, the nation’s No. 1 ranked recruit in the 2022 class. Hunter is the prize of the group, as he will play both ways. The Florida State decommit possesses elite deep, ball skills and a feel for the cornerback and wide receiver position.
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
2022 the goal is: 🏆 and more!#IBelieve pic.twitter.com/g1nbN0srTC
— Jackson State Football (@GoJSUTigersFB) January 12, 2022
Concepts matter, and Andrade should know the verbiage and nuances of the scheme, having been under Ryan Day for three seasons. It’s his job to lose, even if Coach Prime wants to try and make us believe something different. JSU might be an historically Black college/university, but Coach Prime is not afraid to bring in non-Black talent if needed.
