In September 2020, Jackson State announced Sanders as its next football coach. “Coach Prime” decided to go to JSU after multiple Power 5 programs turned him away for coaching opportunities, and he’s made it his mission to level the playing field for HBCU programs. Since being hired, Sanders has expedited the process of bringing a new turf on-campus practice field, and he’s now recruited the top FCS class in the country for the past two years. In the 2022 recruiting class cycle, he has secured a number of the country’s top 50 prospects, including No. 1 prospect Travis Hunter. In his second official season at the helm this past fall, he coached Jackson State to a SWAC championship.
Rice, a Starkville, Mississippi native, played his college football at Mississippi Valley State University. He’s previously said in New Orleans at the Superdome against Jackson State is where he caught the eye of many NFL scouts. MVSU went 4-7 this past fall, which was considered an overachieving season because the Delta Devils have less scholarship players than any other team in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. As a result of the successful year, coach, and former JSU player, Vincent Dancy signed an extension through 2023 in November.
Would you like to see the rivalry of Deion Sanders-Jerry Rice revitalized in HBCU football coaching-form? Let us know in the comments.
