Deion Sanders’ first Jackson State recruiting class has star power
By Keith Farner
Published:
Deion Sanders’ first full signing class at Jackson State was one that was watched across college football as he drew plenty of attention with high-profile transfers and early signings in December.
In the end, Jackson State finished No. 85 in the 247Sports rankings of the Class of 2021. The Tigers signed 20 players, including transfers like former South Carolina defensive back Shilo Sanders, Deion’s son. Another son in the Sanders’ family, Shedeur, is a pro-style quarterback and the highest-rated player in the class. Shedeur, a 4-star recruit, was rated the No. 15 player at his position.
CB De’Jahn Warren was the next highest-rated player, and drew some headlines late last year as he committed to Jackson State after he previously committed to Georgia.
Shedeur Sanders and Warren were both 4-stars, but the other notable 4-star in the class is commit Trevonte Rucker of Ocala, Florida. He was the No. 52 wide receiver in the country, and the No. 47 player in the state of Florida. A longtime Florida commitment, Rucker and the Gators parted ways, and while LSU and Florida Atlantic reportedly made strong late pushes, Rucker struck up a relationship with Sanders, who Rucker knew through 7-on-7 camps.
Rucker liked Sanders’ pitch and also the thought of making a social statement by being a four-star recruit joining a historically Black university.
“With all that’s going on in the world (with social issues), I wanted to do this,” said Rucker, per the Clarion-Ledger, whose former Vanguard teammate, Kimo Clarke, is Jackson State’s starting tailback. “They kept it real on the phone when I talked to them.
“They trusted in me, and I trust them.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
