Photo Courtesy Of Sports Illustrated
Jackson State University (JSU) has named the Tigers’ new coach following the announcement of Deion Sanders’ forthcoming departure.
According to WAPT, JSU Athletic Director Ashley Robinson revealed that current wide receivers position coach T.C. Taylor will succeed his boss at the university’s football program. This promotion will make Taylor its 22nd head coach.
“The former JSU quarterback and wide receiver has been a part of the Jackson State football staff since 2019, coaching tight ends and wide receivers,” the university said in a release. “He has played a key role in a historic run over the past two seasons of Tiger football.”
Taylor reportedly spent his first two and a half seasons playing quarterback for JSU before becoming a wide receiver–positions in which he played from 1998 to 2001. During his 19 games as a receiver, he recorded 188 catches for 1,793 yards.
The news of his promotion arrived a little over a week after Sanders, Coach Prime, shared that he would be coaching the University Of Colorado Boulder’s football program. As News Onyx reported, he also revealed that he would be bringing his son, Shedeur Sanders, with him to lead the Colorado Buffaloes as its starting quarterback.
The Tigers are currently preparing to head to Atlanta to play in the Celebration Bowl, WAPT reported. JSU’s President Thomas K. Hudson said he’s “looking forward to working with” Taylor.
“Coach Taylor’s experience working with our student-athletes, along with his dedication to support and enhance his alma mater, are exactly what Jackson State University needs to continue to elevate the athletic prowess of our football program. I look forward to working with him as he continues to build on tradition and blaze new trails,” Hudson said in an announcement.
Despite the excitement for the McComb, Mississippi native’s new position, many Sanders fans have expressed their disappointment about his decision to coach at a PWI.
“Deion Sanders used, abused and exploited HBCU Jackson State just to be given an opportunity to show predominately white institutions that he could coach,” famed internet personality and speaker, Umar Johnson told Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club.