Deion Sanders confirms he is been provided Colorado job

BOULDER, Colo. — Deion Sanders mentioned Monday {that a} report stating Colorado has provided him its head teaching job is true and he has additionally acquired curiosity from different colleges.

The Jackson State coach did not say whether or not he is contemplating any of the alternatives, together with making an attempt to show across the Buffaloes’ beleaguered program.

Sanders did not specify in a teleconference for the Southwestern Athletic Convention championship sport contributors who else has reached out in addition to Colorado, saying, “I am not going to take a seat right here and inform all my enterprise, however they don’t seem to be the one ones.”

The college hasn’t commented on any candidates to interchange Karl Dorrell, who was dismissed in October. Interim coach Mike Sanford completed out the Buffaloes’ 1-11 season.

On Saturday, Fox Sports activities reported with out citing sources that Colorado had provided Sanders the job.

The Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer has guided Jackson State, a traditionally black school that performs within the second tier of NCAA Division I soccer, to an 11-0 mark this season. The Tigers host Southern within the SWAC championship Saturday.

Often called “Prime Time” throughout his taking part in profession, the magnetic Sanders prefers “Coach Prime” nowadays. He mentioned the provide to teach the Buffaloes is not a distraction.

“To another person that hasn’t been that dude, it is intoxicating. I have been ‘Prime’ for a very long time, dawg,” Sanders with amusing. “Consideration ain’t nothing new to me. Like, come on. I am not being braggadocious — that is an exquisite phrase, is not it? I simply got here up with that — however this is not new to me. Being within the highlight is not new to me.”

Whoever takes over in Boulder has their work minimize out. The Buffs went 1-8 within the Pac-12 and concluded their gloomy season with a 63-21 blowout loss to No. 12 Utah at Folsom Discipline on Saturday.

Earlier than the season, Colorado misplaced a number of starters via the switch portal, an space Sanders might certainly shore up ought to he settle for the Buffaloes’ job.

Employed by Jackson State in September 2020 after teaching his sons at a Texas highschool, Sanders referred to as the match “a match made in heaven.” He shortly lifted the college in Mississippi’s capital to SWAC champion in a single calendar 12 months.

The Tigers adopted up a 4-3 end in a pandemic-delayed spring season with an 11-2 exhibiting final fall, a exceptional bounce led by Sanders’ son, Shedeur Sanders, at quarterback. They misplaced to South Carolina State within the Celebration Bowl.

Jackson State’s efficiency was important past incomes its first convention title since 2007. A program that has produced Corridor of Famers corresponding to Walter Payton, Lem Barney, Jackie Slater and Robert Brazile was related once more amongst HBCUs, and Sanders was decided to maintain it that approach.

Sanders has additionally scored on the recruiting path, touchdown five-star defensive again Travis Hunter and four-star receiver Kevin Coleman for this 12 months’s unbeaten squad. Sanders advised The Related Press in an October podcast that each gamers selected JSU as a result of he and his workers will put together them for careers within the NFL.

But, Sanders has famous colleges corresponding to Jackson State stay at an inherent drawback in recruiting.

“So now it is changing into an choice,” Sanders mentioned of prime recruits selecting HBCUs. “However it’s not really a balanced choice due to amenities, due to the housing. Due to all of the aesthetics at HBCUs. We’re underfunded and neglected. So, it is not the identical.”

Sanders’ success in lifting the Championship Subdivision program’s profile — to not point out drawing consideration to Black school soccer and the challenges JSU and different packages face in fielding packages — sparked hypothesis about Energy 5 colleges pursuing him for teaching vacancies.

Even earlier than Sanders took the Jackson State job, he met with officers at Energy 5 colleges about their teaching vacancies and impressed along with his preparation.

Sanders was an All-American at Florida State earlier than a stellar NFL profession with 5 groups that included the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, the place he received a Tremendous Bowl with every.

The 55-year-old Sanders — or whoever it might be — would step right into a Colorado program that is a great distance from its glory days underneath Corridor of Fame coach Invoice McCartney, who led CU to a nationwide championship following the 1990 season.

The Buffaloes have had just one full-length successful season since becoming a member of the Pac-12 in 2011.