Deion Sanders named as possible candidate for Arkansas head coaching vacancy
By Mark Kern
Published:
Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes are off to a slow start as they fell to 2-3 after losing 24-20 to BYU on Saturday night. Despite that record, Sanders is always going to have his name tied to different college football jobs because of everything he brings to the table.
He has been rumored for numerous jobs the past couple of seasons, and the latest school he is being linked to is Arkansas, who fired Sam Pittman on Sunday after the 56-13 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday.
Here is what ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg had to say on the fit with Sanders and Arkansas:
I could have selected a more sensible name here, like South Florida’s Alex Golesh or an up-and-coming coordinator from the SEC or Big 12. But Yurachek has shown he can be bold and different with who he considers for major openings. No one expected Pittman to get the job. Yurachek brought Calipari to Arkansas and twice interviewed Sanders before hiring Pittman. Sanders, 58, has now established himself in the FBS, helping Colorado to nine wins last season. He loves being at Colorado, which has given him complete control over the program in ways other schools wouldn’t. Arkansas could offer a better recruiting location, though, and SEC competition. Maybe Sanders stays put, but I wouldn’t rule out a nontraditional candidate like him or Jon Gruden.
There’s the obvious ties with Arkansas. Sanders interviewed for the job before the Razorbacks hired Pittman. Also, Jerry Jones is heavily involved with Arkansas sports and is connected to Sanders via their time together with the Dallas Cowboys.
Arkansas could go many different ways with this one, but Sanders figures to at least be interviewed for this job again. The SEC could have a few more jobs opened in the next few weeks, as schools like Kentucky and Florida are going to have to make some coaching decisions at some point this year.
For Sanders, his main focus is making sure that Colorado can salvage what is quickly becoming a lost season in Boulder. Up next for Sanders and the Buffaloes is a road game at TCU, who is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Arizona State.
