Jackson State completes national signing period with top-ranked FCS class, best among HBCUs

Jackson State finalized its highly-regarded 2021 signing class on Wednesday and made history along the way.

After signing five recruits to add to an impressive haul of high school, junior college and FBS transfers, the Tigers curated the best class in the FCS and one of the most impact groups in all of college football.

“We’re going to change the game here,” said JSU head coach Deion Sanders. “We expect to win, we expect to mature these guys, develop these guys and give them an opportunity to be a professional, on the field and off the field, but we’re going to win here. We’re going to turn a lot of heads; I promise you that.”

JSU welcomed five signees to bring the class to 23. The group includes Valdosta, Georgia wide receiver Aalah Brown; Ocala, Fla. wide receiver, Trevonte Rucker; linebacker Baron Hopson of Leesburg, Georgia; CJ Nunnally, a linebacker from Douglasville, Georgia; Jency Riley, a 6-5, 210-pound tight end from Greensburg, Louisiana; and Charles Armstrong, an offensive lineman from talent-rich Bradenton, Fla.

Read: Meet the recruiting service that helped Jackson State win National Signing Day

The overall class has been highlighted by quarterback Shedeur Sanders, defensive back transfer Shilo Sanders, former Florida State four-star athlete Isaiah Bolden and junior college standout De’Jahn Warren.

JSU’s 2021 class ranks No. 84 nationally, per the 247Sports Composite rankings system.

Andrew Ivins, a recruiting expert for 247Sports, explained in December that the arrival of Sanders, and his aggressiveness on the trail so far, has historically been far from the norm for black college football programs.

“No HBCU has really built a class like this,” Ivins told HBCU Sports. “Deion is out-recruiting programs like Tulsa, South Alabama, Middle Tennesee State, and Western Kentucky. “He’s getting some headliners. He’s getting some star players.”