Former Jackson State coach and current Colorado coach, Deion Sanders, took to Twitter to express his disappointment in the NFL for not drafting more players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Sanders congratulated his former player, Isaiah Bolden, who was the only HBCU player drafted this year, going to the New England Patriots in the seventh round.
Sanders tweeted that he was proud of Bolden but ashamed of the 31 other NFL teams that passed on talented HBCU players. He highlighted that Jackson State had three more draft-worthy players who were overlooked. Last year, only four HBCU players were drafted, and Sanders believes that more talented players from these schools should be given a chance in the NFL.
Bolden, who has one year of starting experience at cornerback and led the FCS in kick return average in 2021 with a 36.9-yard average, has made it his goal to shine a spotlight on HBCU players. He is the second Jackson State player who played under Sanders to be drafted, following linebacker James Houston, who was selected by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round last year.
Jackson State is now celebrating having a player drafted in consecutive years for the first time since 1997 and 1998. The NFL started a combine for HBCU players in 2020, which was attended by all 32 teams. This year, 47 players took part in the event, which was hosted by the HBCU Legacy Bowl, a postseason all-star game to showcase HBCU players.
In conclusion, Sanders believes that more HBCU players should be given the opportunity to play in the NFL. He congratulated Bolden on his selection but expressed his disappointment in the other NFL teams that overlooked talented players from these schools. The NFL has taken steps to showcase HBCU players, but Sanders believes more can be done to ensure that these players are given a fair chance to succeed in the league.
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