Tag: Jackson State

Cormani McClain visits Colorado, still no official signing

McClain has been busy, though and the latest news may be a sign of where he intends to play.

The Cormani McClain saga continues into another week. For now, McClain is still officially committed to Miami, but that relationship hardly seems to be on stable footing.

When last we heard from McClain, he told reporters that he would be signing on January 15. That date has come and gone and there’s still been no official move from the second-ranked recruit in the country.

McClain has been busy, though and the latest news may be a sign of where he intends to play. On Friday, Miami’s coaching staff showed up to Lakeland (Fla.) but McClain was nowhere to be found.

Then over the weekend, McClain visited Colorado and several photos emerged on social media of him wearing a No. 7 uniform:

Several media outlets are now predicting that McClain will indeed join Colorado.

McClain is the No. 1 CB in the class of 2023. If he does decide to sign with Colorado, he’d be joining the best corner from last year’s recruiting class, Travis Hunter – who followed coach Deion Sanders over from Jackson State.

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Notre Dame’s Niele Ivey highlighted in coaches fashion story

Rock those outfits, Niele!

You might have noticed that Notre Dame coach [autotag]Niele Ivey[/autotag] has had a very colorful wardrobe this season. More often than not, her game outfits have jumped out and often have a shade of green. She even has served as an inspiration to Jackson State coach Tomekia Reed. All of that and more is talked about in this story from ESPN-owned-and-operated website Andscape.

Perhaps the most interesting part about the story is that Ivey selects her wardrobe with help from best friend and former Irish teammate [autotag]Julie Henderson[/autotag], who now is a model. In fact, Henderson flies to South Bend at least once a month to provide that assistance. That’s how you know a friendship is real.

When asked to comment about her thought process for game outfits, Ivey said this:

“My first thing [is] the color scheme and then it’s kind of like a vibe and energy. So this year, I’m going to try to plan out more games in advance. I don’t mind patterns, but I think I like bold colors and sometimes I like bright colors. I kind of like showing my femininity a little bit more. I will say that that would probably be my beginning stage of understanding and learning fashion. I’m big on if I feel good in the clothes.”

Clearly, Ivey’s need to be fashionable has not affected her coaching as the Irish have a 12-2 record. Here’s to more of her rocking in both areas.

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Top 2022 recruit Travis Hunter follows Deion Sanders, transfers to Colorado

The No. 1 player in the 2022 recruiting class is following Coach Prime to Colorado.

The No. 1 player in the 2022 recruiting class is following Coach Prime to Colorado.

Travis Hunter announced yesterday that he’s transferring from Jackson State, where Deion Sanders had been serving as head coach prior to accepting the position at Colorado. Hunter announced the news on his Youtube channel and shared it on Twitter.

A hybrid cornerback and wide receiver, Hunter (6-foot-1, 165 pounds) was a five-star plus recruit last year and the top overall prospect in the entire class.

During his time at Collins Hill (Ga.) Hunter put up some stupendous numbers on both sides of the ball, including 48 touchdown catches, 4,373 all-purpose yards and 19 interceptions.

Hunter turned heads last year by flipping his commitment from Florida State to Jackson State on the first day of the Early Signing Period, dubbed by some as the biggest surprise in recruiting history.

As a Freshman at Jackson State he played eight games, posting 18 catches, 188 yards and four touchdowns as a receiver. As a cornerback, he totaled 20 tackles, eight passes defensed, two picks and a fumble recovery.

Colorado’s transfer class now ranks No. 7 in the nation.

More football recruiting stories

Every 2023 recruit for Colorado since Deion Sanders was hired

Top 100 rankings of 2023 prospects with recruiting updates

Jackson State forces overtime on touchdown pass with no time left

Jackson State with the miracle TD pass to force overtime in the Celebration Bowl

Sixty minutes wasn’t enough to close the Deion Sanders era at Jackson State.

That’s because the coach’s son, Shedeur, threw a touchdown pass to Travis Hunter, the five-star recruit, on a fourth-and-10 as time ran out in regulation.

The scoring play was good for 19 yards and rather than try for a 2-point conversion and win the game, Deion Sanders went for the PAT, which was good and the game went to overtime at 34-34.

All that was at stake was the HBCU national championship and a perfect season for Jackson State.

There was controversy on the 15-play drive as Shedeur Sanders spiked the ball and then walked toward the Tigers’ bench despite no timeout being called.

The officials somehow whiffed on keeping the play clock going and North Carolina Central eventually called time to settle after the chaotic moment.

Roger Goodell confused everyone when he showed up to Jackson State’s bowl game to support his nephew

Wait, Roger Goodell has a nephew??? Who goes to JACKSON STATE?!?!

Roger Goodell confused the entire internet when he showed up at Jackson State’s Celebration Bowl appearance Saturday. There were only a few reasons that immediately came to mind for this.

The first was maybe he was there to support Deion Sanders in his last game at the prestigious historically Black university. They’re buds, right? That’s totally plausible considering Sanders is making a b-line for Colorado right after this game.

Or maybe this could’ve been a scouting trip for Goodell? Nah. That can’t be right. He’s a commissioner, not a scout. Come on, Sykes.

To be fair to me here, though, there wasn’t a person in the world who could’ve guessed what the correct answer actually was.

As it turns out, Roger Goodell actually has a nephew who goes to Jackson State.

No, no — seriously. This is not a bit. He really has a nephew who goes to Jackson State. And, yes. his nephew is Black. His name is Charlton Goodell, and he’s a Sophomore at Jackson State.

Roger gave him a big hug on the sideline. You should recognize that hug, too. It’s the same hug he gives to the No. 1 draft pick every year. Clearly, Charlton is No. 1 in his heart.

Nobody can blame you for missing this back in 2020 with, well, you know *waves hands wildly in the air*. But Goodell did an interview where he talked about Charlton — or Charlie, as he calls him — with Fox Sports’ Emmanuel Acho. He’s one of his younger brother’s adopted kids.

That’s a pretty neat thing. You absolutely love to see family thriving. But, still, everyone was just a tad bit confused by what they just learned. It felt like the simulation simulated a little too hard.

Jackson State vs North Carolina Central Cricket Celebration Bowl Prediction Game Preview

Jackson State vs North Carolina Central game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Cricket Celebration Bowl on Saturday, December 17

Jackson State vs North Carolina Central prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Cricket Celebration Bowl, Saturday, December 17

Jackson State vs North Carolina Central Cricket Celebration Bowl Prediction Game Preview

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Jackson State vs North Carolina Central How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 17
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
How To Watch: ABC
Record: Jackson State (12-0), North Carolina Central (9-2)
– Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

Jackson State vs North Carolina Central Cricket Celebration Bowl 5 Things To Know

Cricket Celebration Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

– Coach Prime has one more game at Jackson State. Deion Sanders has cranked it up as the new head coach at Colorado, instantly making it one of the hottest programs in college football – at least when it comes to the attention along with the interest from potential transfers. It’ll be TC Taylor’s job once this is over, but first …

– Sanders has some unfinished business. Last year’s Jackson State team got to the Celebration Bowl with a high-powered offense along with an 11-1 record and a whole lot of swagger. Oliver Pough’s South Carolina State team had other ideas on the way to a dominant 31-10 win. This time around, Sanders and his Tigers are trying to finis off a perfect season.

– This time around it’s North Carolina Central that’s trying to take down the might Jackson State team. It lost two early games – including a 26-24 loss to South Carolina State – before finding its footing on the way to a strong 9-2 season and the MEAC title.

– North Carolina Central won two Black College Division II national titles in the mid-2000s – and split one in 1954 – before making the move up to the MEAC in 2010. The 2016 team got to the Celebration Bowl but lost to Grambling State, meaning the pressure is on now because ….

– The MEAC is 5-1 in Celebration Bowl over the SWAC. That loss by the Eagles is the MEAC’s lone blemish. No matter what, expect a whole lot of scoring, a whole lot of offense, and one of the most entertaining all-around games on a Saturday loaded with bowls and key NFL matchups.

– CFN Expert Picks: Bowl Games December 16th-19th

Why Jackson State Will Win The Cricket Celebration Bowl

The offense gets all the headlines – along with the head coach – but it’s the defense that’s been able to take the team to a whole other level.

The Tigers have the best defense in the FCS, allowing just 233 yards and 11.2 points per game thanks to a killer pass rush that averages an FCS-best 3.9 an outing. The pressure will keep on coming, but that’s not a concern on the other side.

North Carolina Central will bring the offense, but it doesn’t generate nearly enough of a pass rush to bother Shedeur Sanders and a passing game that doesn’t hit a whole lot of big plays, but spreads it around and keeps on coming averaging close to 300 yards per outing.

Relentless, the Tigers can take over fast if the offense gets clicking right away. However …

Why North Carolina Central Will Win The Cricket Celebration Bowl

The great Jackson State defense was pushed a wee bit by Southern in the regular season finale.

The Tigers were never in any real danger, and they generated three picks, but they were also run on a bit and gave up a season-most 217 passing yards. Now they have to deal with NCCU QB Davius Richardson who threw for close to 2,500 yards with 24 touchdowns and ran for 691 yards and 13 scores.

Richardson is a big playmaker of an offensive weapon, he’s got a strong back in Latrell Collier to take some of the heat off, and no one in the FCS was better at keeping the chains moving on third downs.

No, the Eagles don’t have Jackson State’s pass rush, but they hold tough in the red zone, are great against the run, and they come up with the big plays that should be there against an attack that turned it over 20 times this year.

Cricket Celebration Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, Jackson State vs North Carolina Central Prediction, Cricket Celebration Bowl History

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Former Oregon RB/WR Seven McGee transfers to Jackson State

Oregon Ducks running back/wide receiver Seven McGee found a new home at Jackson State after about one week in the NCAA transfer portal.

After barely one week in the NCAA transfer portal, former Oregon Ducks running back/wide receiver Seven McGee has found a new home with the Jackson State Tigers, tweeting his commitment on Wednesday morning.

McGee hopped into the portal on December 5 after two seasons in Eugene, where he was used sparingly as an offensive weapon despite his speed and ability to play running back and line up out wide as a receiver.

The addition of transfer running backs Noah Whittington and Bucky Irving pushed McGee out of the backfield rotation, and Chase Cota soaked up a lot of snaps out wide alongside emerging stars Troy Franklin and Kris Hutson – keeping McGee on the sidelines for the majority of the 2022 campaign.

All told McGee saw action in 15 games with the Ducks, carrying the ball 17 times for 50 yards and a touchdown while hauling in 18 receptions for 151 yards in the air.

He’ll head to a Jackson State squad looking to rebuild in the post-Deion Sanders era after their Hall of Fame coach took a new job at Colorado.

Seven McGee’s Transfer Portal Profile

Friday Night Notes: Prime Time in Colorado, 5-star recruits for Florida and Texas A&M, plus more

The latest recruiting notes looks at the Prime Time’s effect at Colorado, the Aggies attempt to rebound and the Florida Gators 5-star haul.

USA TODAY High School Sports‘ Friday Night Notes is a weekly high school recruiting recap that looks at the latest news from around the country—from the Class of 2023 to ’24 and beyond.

Few athletes have been as disruptive as Deion Sanders in his career.  For 14 years, Sanders played DB at the highest level, snatching 54 interceptions, making eight Pro Bowls and six All-Pro teams, winning two Super Bowls, and eventually earning a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sanders was also good enough at baseball to hit 39 home runs and steal 186 bases in the majors. At his peak, he led MLB in triples in 1992 with the Braves.

Sanders has also found success in his endeavors after his playing days. After a few years of analysis work at NFL Network and coaching high school football he took over at HBCU Jackson State, where he went 27-5.

Next up, Sanders will attempt to lead a floundering Power-5 program to relevance. On Sunday, Sanders officially took over as the new head coach at Colorado, turning a derelict recruiting team into a heavyweight contender overnight.

The results are yet to be determined. However, it’s clear Coach Prime is already a fan favorite.

Make no mistake; Sanders has inherited a mess of a program at Colorado. The team hasn’t won more than five games in a season since 2016, bottoming out with a 1-11 record in 2022. The Buffaloes are also behind the herd in the recruiting game. Their 2023 class currently ranks No. 72 in the nation and they have no recruits on board at all for 2024.

Some of those holes will be filled by players Sanders is bringing over with him from Jackson State. The first to do so is offensive tackle Jordan Hall. Hall is a huge (6-foot-8, 330 pounds) three-star lineman who is ranked No. 48 in the state of Ohio. Prime’s son Shedeur Sanders will be among those following suit and he’ll be starting at quarterback.

Time will tell if Jackson can turn this team around, but he’ll have his pick of the upcoming high-end prospects.

On3 has reported that over 200 recruits have reached out since he was hired. Five-star 2025 wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr. became Sanders’ first new recruit and some flips may also be coming soon.

For starters, they have made an offer to five-star Iowa commit, OT Kadyn Proctor. Colorado is also favored to land four-star RB Dylan Edwards, who just decommitted from Notre Dame.

Colorado gets commitment from 5-star WR Winston Watkins Jr., over 200 more recruits reach out

Watkins shared the news with an edit on Twitter.

Deion Sanders is shaking up the amateur football landscape, especially in the recruiting department. His decision to leave Jackson State and become the new head coach at Colorado has suddenly made the Buffaloes major players in the recruiting game.

On Sunday, five-star wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr. (class of 2025) committed to Colorado. Watkins is the cousin of Green Bay Packers wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who’s scored 34 touchdowns in 108 career NFL games and won a Super Bowl.

Watkins shared the news with an edit on Twitter:

Watkins (5-foot-10, 172 pounds) plays for IMG Academy in Florida, a magnet for elite high school football talent. He’s ranked No. 4 among wide receivers by the 247Sports composite and No. 13 overall in his class.

Watkins had offers from 17 other programs, including Texas A&M, which had been the favorite to land him.

If nothing else, Watkins won’t be lonely. According to a report by Josh Newberg at on3, Colorado has had over 200 recruits reach out since the Sanders news became official, including some four and five-star prospects.

Getting Watkins puts Colorado at the top of the ’25 recruiting rankings, but Sanders has inherited the No. 61 ranked recruiting class in 2023, and Colorado currently has no recruits for 2024.

However, Sanders is planning to bring over many of his former players from Jackson State and advised current Colorado players to enter the transfer portal.

For starters, Jackson’s son Shedeur will be starting at quarterback.

More recruiting stories

Ranking the top 100 recruits of 2023

Alabama increases ’23 lead, Georgia flips 4-star WR

Super 25

USA TODAY Sports Super 25 high school football rankings

Report: Cowboys legend Deion Sanders set to be named next HC at Colorado

Sanders may depart Jackson State after Saturday’s SWAC title game; he’s apparently reached out to staffers and players about following him. | From @ToddBrock24f7

It looks like Coach Prime is coming to the Power Five.

ESPN is reporting that two-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is leaving Jackson State to become the next head football coach at the University of Colorado. The network’s Pete Thamel broke the story Saturday, just hours before undefeated Jackson State was set to take on Southern for the 2022 SWAC title.

According to The Worldwide Leader, sources said the 55-year-old Sanders “and his associates have spent the week making inquiries to both potential members of his on-field staff and support staff at Colorado, pitching them to join him in Boulder.”

One prominent player in the NCAA’s transfer portal was reportedly encouraged not to make a decision on his next school because Sanders had an interest in recruiting him to the Buffaloes. Another player currently committed to Colorado also received a call from a Jackson State staffer asking about his commitment.

And Shedeur Sanders, the coach’s son who is also his sophomore quarterback at Jackson State, was expected by many to follow his father if he were to leave the small Mississippi HBCU school. Deion himself implied as much in an interview earlier in the week.

More players are sure to follow, perhaps even including Travis Hunter, the five-star recruit who Sanders lured away from Florida State (his own alma mater) to come to Jackson State.

Sanders was expected to depart Jackson State after the school won the SWAC Championship, 43-24, Saturday evening. An official announcement in Boulder was expected late Saturday or early Sunday.

Coincidentally or not, Colorado’s board of regents has called a special meeting for Sunday.

Sanders has gone 26-5 since assuming control of the Tigers in 2020. The Buffaloes, on the other hand, finished the season 1-10 under interim coach Mike Sanford after Karl Dorrell was fired in October.

The former Cowboys cornerback had been connected to head coaching vacancies at Cincinnati and South Florida in addition to the Buffaloes’ job. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said just this past week that he believes Sanders “is very capable of being a head coach in the National Football League” one day.

“Deion has such a positive enthusiasm about him,” Jones said. “It’s a positiveness about him. He has a real understanding of what a player’s mentality can and should be. Of course, he’s actually been around and gotten the benefit of some of the greatest people in sport, and look what he brings to the table. Deion Sanders has a little bit going for him when it comes to being able to be a coach… I’m just going to say he’s a great communicator and he’s a real leader of men.”

He’s already put tiny Jackson State on the mainstream college football map in a short time. If he can replicate that kind of success at Colorado, a program that’s had one full-length winning season since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, he may be a candidate for a Sunday gig very soon.

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