Deion Sanders, Jackson State offer former Ohio State quarterback

Jackson State coach Deion Sanders extended an offer to former Ohio State quarterback JP Andrade on Friday evening. A Buckeyes bench warmer this past season, Andrade entered the transfer portal in early January.

He joined Ohio State in 2019 as a preferred walk-on, turning down scholarship offers from South Alabama, Fordham and Morehead State. His 702 career completions for Bonita High School are the third-most in California state history.

Sanders led Jackson State to its first conference championship since 2007 this past season and the first 11-win season in school history. The second-year coach won the Eddie Robinson Award, given annually to the FCS coach of the year.

Shedeur Sanders, the son of Deion Sanders, started at quarterback for the Tigers this past season. He finished the year with 3,231 yards, 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions. It seems likely that he will continue in a starting role for Jackson State in 2022.

The Tigers had already landed several transfer players from Power 5 schools this offseason prior to Andrade. That includes Miami receiver Mark Pope, Texas A&M linebacker Antonio Doyle and South Carolina receiver Keveon Mullins.

Additionally, Jackson State signed the No. 20 overall recruiting class according to On3’s 2022 team rankings. Highlighting Sanders’ class is Travis Hunter, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2022 class according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Hunter grew up idolizing Deion Sanders, which played a big role in his decision to commit to the FCS school over big-time offers.

“I bring a whole lot of intensity and talent,” Hunter said. “I want to be the next Deion Sanders. And I’m going to live up to it.”

Needless to say, things are only looking up for the program next season. It will be interesting to see how the Ohio State transfer quarterback fits into Deion Sanders’ team, but the Tigers should again win plenty of games.

Jackson State opens the 2022 season on Sept. 4 against Florida A&M.