DEION SANDERS LANDS THE NATION’S TOP FOOTBALL RECRUIT AT JACKSON STATE

DEION SANDERS LANDS THE NATION’S TOP FOOTBALL RECRUIT AT JACKSON STATE

January 10, 2022

by Cara G

On national signing day, Deion Sanders landed the top high school recruit Travis Hunter. Hunter is a star from Georgia who verbally committed to Florida State two years ago.

The day before college football’s early signing window, Jackson State Coach Deion Sanders said, “Signing day is tomorrow.” He continued, “I’m going on record to tell you guys, we’re going to shock the country.”

Less than 24 hours later, Jackson State locked in Travis Hunter, who is ranked as the class of 2022’s No. 1 recruit by 247Sports.com. Hunter’s official commitment to Jackson State pulled him away from Florida State, Sanders’s alma mater. His signing goes down as one of the most shocking and significant signings in the modern football era.

“Everybody knows I’m committed to Florida State,” Hunter said in front of a packed room at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Ga. He picked up a hat stamped with a Georgia Bulldogs logo. Many thought that if Hunter were to flip his commitment, he would choose his home state.

He placed the Georgia hat on his head.

“I like this one. It fits me well,” Hunter said. “But that ain’t who I want to go to.”

He dramatically threw the hat to the side. He then unzipped his jacket, allowing the words “I believe,” the Tigers’ mantra since Sanders’s arrival, to peek through.

After what seemed like hours of anticipation, he then put on a Jackson State cap, indicating his decision to play football at the Jackson State University.

THE NATION’S NUMBER ONE RECRUIT TRAVIS HUNTER JUST MADE HISTORY!!!!!!!! JACKSON STATE!!!!!!!!! @DeionSanders @JacksonStateU pic.twitter.com/WOXdqj2auy

— Maria Martin (@Ria_Martin) December 15, 2021

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Hunter said he changed his commitment status to Jackson State because it would allow him to “light the way for others to follow.” He added, “make it a little easier for the next player to recognize that HBCUs may be everything you want and more.”