Deion Sanders has indicated where he plans to train in 2023 will be known by Sunday; Coach Prime’s Jackson State Tigers play in the Southwestern Athletic Conference title game today.
Sources throughout the week have told FootballScoop that Sanders is expected to take over as head coach at the University of Colorado, which fired Karl Dorrell earlier this season. Sanders himself confirmed he received an offer from the Buffaloes, and he insisted that leaving Jackson State to become a head coach elsewhere was not his only option.
Coaches at both the collegiate and NFL levels told FootballScoop this week that Sanders has been working to find potential new employees and is also “trying to help potentially find his replacement in Jackson State.”
Sanders appreciates and remains in close contact with Florida A&M’s current head coach, Willie Simmons, who also previously served as a head coach at Prairie View A&M and before that as Alcorn State’s offensive coordinator. Sources said FootballScoop Sanders is keen on adding Simmons to their offensive line.
Additionally, sources told FootballScoop this week that Sanders is expected to target veteran Power 5 assistant Charles Kelly as his defensive coordinator.
Currently serving as Alabama’s assistant defensive coordinator and safety coach, Kelly has previously held positions at Florida State, Georgia Tech and Tennessee, among others.
Kelly has a direct connection to a key member of Sander’s current staff: Tim Brewster. Both Brewster and Kelly were on the Florida State staff of Jimbo Fisher together for several seasons.
Sources tell FootballScoop Sanders will not be approaching candidates until he has accepted the position.
A coach at a prominent high school program told FootballScoop this week that Sanders had a recruitment interview with one of the coach’s players and told the recruit not to make a commitment or sign anywhere until he saw what Sanders was going to do.
All signs point to Sanders accepting Colorado’s offer, which FootballScoop says would average more than $5 million per season — consistent with additional reports along the same lines. The job was thought to fall to either Sanders or Tom Herman, and Herman accepted the job at Florida Atlantic University earlier this week.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest coaching news.
