It's time to take Deion Sanders seriously as a coach and not just a showman
Mark Giannotto
Memphis Commercial Appeal

The barbeque at the tailgates had been cooked, the bands had boomed at halftime, and a Memphis rapper named Duke Deuce had shown up to sing along, when Jackson State demonstrated the possibilities that exist with
Deion Sanders as coach.
Jackson State quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw the ball on a dime as wide receiver Keith Corbin broke open across the middle of the field, then broke a tackle and raced 67 yards down the field for a touchdown. The son of Sanders throwing to a University of Houston transfer, both of whom arrived on campus as part of a 2021 recruiting class that ranked No. 55 in the nation.
Not No. 55 in the Football Championship Subdivision.
No. 55 in all of Division I. Ahead of Power Five conference schools like Kansas State, Duke, Iowa State, Syracuse, Colorado and Wake Forest.
It’s the moment Jackson State’s talent began to overwhelm Tennessee State
in Saturday’s 38-16 win at the 32nd Southern Heritage Classic in front of a lively crowd of 46,171 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
It’s the sort of moment that makes Sanders such an intriguing figure in Memphis and in college football moving forward. A moment that forces you to see him as more than just a celebrity hire with years of experience using a microphone to his advantage.
Sanders is bringing in talent Jackson State never could get before. Players originally recruited by Southern Cal, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Auburn, Missouri, South Carolina, Louisville and UCF, among others.
He’s leveraging the NCAA’s transfer portal, his dynamic personality and his legacy as one of the NFL’s greatest players to transform the way HBCU football conducts its business. He could be creating a program that transcends what we expect from this level of the sport.
Jackson State's win in the Southern Heritage Classic showcased exactly why Deion Sanders is emerging as a lot more than a showman.
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