Ad Disclosure
Nick Saban comments on Deion Sanders recruiting nation’s No. 1 CB, Travis Hunter, to Jackson State
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Nick Saban and Deion Sanders obviously have a strong professional relationship thanks to their starring roles in the most recent collection of Aflac commercials. When the camera stops rolling, though, both are head-first into their respective coaching roles at Alabama and Jackson State.
Saban, of course, is the gold standard among college coaches nationally, and he and his staff have won their fair share of recruiting battles during his time in Tuscaloosa. But the decision by Travis Hunter, the No. 1 cornerback in the country, to flip his pledge from Sanders’ alma mater of Florida State to Jackson State sent shockwaves through the sport.
While Saban expressed respect toward Sanders during his Early Signing Day press conference on Wednesday, he didn’t provide much further in the way of comment regarding the decision.
“I have a lot of respect for Deion Sanders … and I enjoy doing commercials with him,” Saban said. He didn’t want to comment further on the big score Sanders landed.
— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) December 15, 2021
“This is America,” Saban said, basically and people have the freedom to do what they want. https://t.co/tpkEuYvyTx
— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) December 15, 2021
Meanwhile, Saban has signed the bulk of another stellar class for the Crimson Tide. Headlined by a trio of 5 stars in Top 10 recruit Jeremiah Alexander, talented quarterback Ty Simpson, and the nation’s No. 1 running back in Emmanuel Henderson, it’s currently ranked No. 2 in the country, behind only Texas A&M.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
