The University of Colorado Boulder officially named Deion Sanders as head coach of its football program on Saturday and Leaving Jackson state.
Deion Sanders : Leaving Jackson state | Colorado
At the 1989 NFL Scouting Combine, Sanders ran a 4.20 and 4.29 second 40-yard dash. He was the fifth pick overall in the 1989 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, where he played until 1993. Despite fumbling (and recovering) his first NFL punt return (which was re-kicked on a penalty), Sanders ran for a touchdown on his second attempt of his first game.
During his time in Atlanta, he intercepted 24 passes (including a career-high 7 in 1993), three of which he returned for touchdowns. In 1992, he also led the league in kickoff return yards (1,067), yards per return (26.7) and return touchdowns (2).
On October 11, 1992, Sanders played in a Falcons game in Miami and then flew to Pittsburgh, hoping to play in the Braves’ League Championship Series game against the Pirates that evening and become the first athlete to play in two professional leagues in the same day.
Sanders ultimately did not, however, appear in the baseball game that night.
Deion Sanders Leaving Jackson state
Deion Sanders will reportedly leave Jackson State at the end of the season to become the next head coach at Colorado, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Over the past few days, sources have told Sports Illustrated that they are expecting Sanders to land in Colorado barring a change of direction from Sanders.
The sources also said they weren’t expecting anything to be announced until after Saturday’s SWAC championship game. However, conversations began to heat up in recent days.
Sanders and his associates spent the week picking prospective members for his on-field and support staff at Colorado, per Thamel.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer also reportedly spoke with a high-profile player in the NCAA transfer portal, encouraging him to hold off on making his decision because of the possibility that Sanders was heading to Boulder.
Sanders will coach the Tigers against Southern University in the SWAC championship game as Jackson State is in pursuit of its second straight conference championship.
As for Colorado, Thamel reported that its support staff has been preparing information for Sanders to accept the job and that all signs point to him arriving in Boulder this weekend.
Deion Sanders Colorado
The long-anticipated marriage between Colorado and Deion Sanders has finally been consummated.
The Buffaloes announced Sanders as their 28th head football coach Saturday night shortly after his Jackson State Tigers defeated Southern 43-24 to win the 2022 SWAC Championship Game.
“There were a number of highly qualified and impressive candidates interested in becoming the next head football coach at Colorado, but none of them had the pedigree, the knowledge and the ability to connect with student-athletes like Deion Sanders,” said Colorado athletic director Rick George in a statement.
“Not only will Coach Prime energize our fanbase, I’m confident that he will lead our program back to national prominence while leading a team of high quality and high character.”
Sanders, 55, was expected to announce his intention join Colorado after the SWAC championship, sources close to the hiring process told CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd.
Following Jackson State’s victory, “Coach Prime” told his team that he would indeed be leaving for Boulder, 247Sports‘ Carl Reed confirmed.
Sanders told Jackson State players that he will coach the Celebration Bowl on Dec. 17 against North Carolina Central in Atlanta.