Deion Sanders has candidate in mind for Jackson State's next football coach

J.T. Keith, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
·2 min read
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One of the marquee wins in Jackson State football history was still fresh when Deion Sanders told his team he was taking the Colorado job after spending three seasons rebuilding the Tigers.

He advised his player not to jump into the transfer portal for the sake of it when the portal opens Monday.

And then made a recommendation for who JSU should hire as his successor:

“I would like to recommend T.C. Taylor as the next head coach," Sanders said to his players, who began clapping. "But that is just my recommendation. Everyone knows how I feel about T.C. (Taylor) and several of the staff members will be retained here. I would love for someone in the house to get the job.”

In three seasons, Sanders has a 27-5 record and won back SWAC titles. He'll coach in the Cricket Celebration Bowl against NC Central on Dec. 17 (11 a.m., ABC) before handing the reins to someone else.

SANDERS TAKING THE COLORADO JOBDeion Sanders takes Colorado football job, leaving Jackson State after SWAC title

Sanders was, and in many cases still is, a father figure to JSU players. And not just his sons who play for him. Perhaps that's why Sanders is so adamant about Taylor, the JSU wide receivers coach who played quarterback and wide receiver for the Tigers from 1998 to 2001 and went on to be a successful offensive coordinator at NC Central.

Taylor, a McComb native, understands the SWAC. He understands JSU and Mississippi. And he understands the roster the next JSU coach will inherit, whether that coach is Taylor or the product of a national search for Sanders' replacement.

"Jackson State football is one of the best programs in college sports," Robinson said in a news release. "Our university, traditions and fanbase, and community combine to make our Jackson State football second to none. We will conduct an aggressive national search for the next leader for JSU football and continue to enhance our traditions."

SANDERS WANTS TO FINISH WHAT HE STARTEDBound for Colorado, Deion Sanders wants to finish what he started at Jackson State

10 CANDIDATES TO REPLACE DEIONReplacing Deion Sanders: 10 possible candidates for next Jackson State football coach

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Deion Sanders has candidate in mind for Jackson State's next football coach