Deion Sanders says he is ‘ASHAMED’ of NFL franchises for taking just one HBCU player in the Draft

Deion Sanders has bizarrely criticized all-but-one of the NFL’s franchises after the New England Patriots were the only organization to draft a player from an HBCU. 

Sanders, who left his coaching position at Jackson State – incidentally an HBCU – for the University of Colorado’s football program in December, said he was ‘ashamed’ following the conclusion of the NFL Draft.

New England drafted one of Sanders’ former players, Isaiah Bolden, out of Jackson State with the No. 245 overall pick. He was the lone player from a Historically Black College and University to be selected. 

‘So proud [of] you @isaiahbolden23 you deserved to be drafted much higher but I’m truly proud of u,’ Sanders wrote Saturday night.

‘I know how much u want this. I’m ashamed of the 31 other @nfl teams that couldn’t find draft value in ALL of the talented HBCU players & we had 3 more draft worthy players at JSU.’

Deion Sanders left his head coaching position at Jackson State University for U of Colorado

Isaiah Bolden was the sole HBCU player to be drafted, he was taken by NE with the No. 245 pick

Sanders spent three seasons in with Jackson State before taking his talents to Boulder, CO.

Sanders speaks with athletic director Rick George (right) at his introductory news conference

Sanders’ take could be viewed to be ostensibly hypocritical given his defection to the highly-publicized and more competitive Pac-12 conference. After bringing an unprecedented level of exposure to Jackson State and HBCU football, Sanders left the Mississippi school for the Buffaloes program and the opportunity to prove himself in a Power Five conference. 

He signed a five-year, $29.5million contract with the Buffaloes – with further incentives included. With him, Sanders took five-star corner/wide receiver Travis Hunter, 2022’s No. 1 college football recruit, who he had originally brought to Jackson.  Seven JSU players entered the transfer portal and committed to Colorado, with several members of staff leaving the HBCU school to follow Sanders.

‘Never once did I say they’re gonna put a tombstone with my name on it at Jackson State,’ Sanders said in December, following his appointment in Boulder. 

‘But when I don’t fit into someone else’s plan and purpose, that is ridiculed… You just forgot about my plan, and God’s plan. That’s where the dysfunction comes.’

Sanders hoists winner’s trophy following Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship

The Deion Sanders effect is real, as judged by the uptick attendance at Colorado’s spring game

Sanders has seen more than two dozen players enter transfer portal since becoming CU coach 

While few players have been drafted out of Historically Black Colleges – five in the last two seasons – around 70% of the league’s players are black. Three black quarterbacks were taken in the top four picks, while 48 of the players drafted in the first two rounds (63 picks) were of African-American descent.

The NFL introduced the first HBCU combine this season in an attempt to further shine a light on prospects available from the programs such as Coach Prime’s former employer. Two HBCU players were invited to the annual NFL Combine in Indianapolis back in March.

Sanders, much like he did for JSU and HBCUs, has created immense hype around the Colorado program. Over 47,000 fans attended CU’s spring game in the snow last week. It was aired on ESPN while the reigning national champions were simultaneously broadcast on ESPN2, such is the intrigue with Sanders. 

Season tickets for the perennially-struggling program have already sold out — the first time since the 1996 season. Sanders spent three seasons with the SWAC school, leading them to two conference titles before losing in back-to-back bowl games.