Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders emphatically said Thursday that finances were not at the forefront of top recruit Travis Hunter switching his commitment from Florida State to the Historically Black College and University program.
Rated as the No. 1 recruit in the country in many circles, Hunter reportedly received a handsome Name, Image and Likeness deal to attend Jackson State. That deal was reportedly to be worth as much as $1.5 million for the cornerback.
Speaking on “Tiger Talk With The 1400 Klub” podcast Thursday, Sanders said the program “ain’t got no money” to help swing such a lucrative deal, and that a rumored partnership between Hunter and Barstool Sports was not accurate.
“That’s the biggest lie I ever heard,” Sanders said.
Instead, Sanders touted the program’s recruiting efforts. The two-time Super Bowl champion just completed his second season as the Tigers’ coach, going 11-1 and earning a spot in the Celebration Bowl.
“You know what that is, that means we kicked your butt (recruiting),” Sanders said. “We took what was ours, and now you’ve got to make an excuse why. Ain’t nobody getting no million-and-a-half (dollars). I wouldn’t pay my son a million-and-a-half NIL. How am I going to coach a guy that’s making more than me?”
Sanders, 54, played 14 seasons in the NFL, in addition to nine seasons in Major League Baseball. He was a defensive back and occasional wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington and Baltimore Ravens.
Named to the Pro Bowl eight times, Sanders also was first-team All-Pro six times. He retired from the NFL in 2000 but returned in 2004 to play 25 more games over two seasons with the Ravens.
–Field Level Media