Deion Sanders ousts 2nd overall college football player Travis Hunter from Florida State to Jackson State on national contract signing day
Defender Travis Hunter, the 2nd-ranked player in the country, broke his commitment from State of Florida arrive Jackson State on Wednesday to become the first five-star high school prospect to sign with an FCS team since ESPN began ranking in 2006.
Jackson State coach Deion Sanders, a Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back, teased before the start of the first signing period that he would create something historic, and now Sanders has removed the five-star defense from his alma mater. .
Hunter, a 6-foot-1, 165-pound prospective student from Collins High School in Suwanee, Georgia, has been committed to Florida State since March 2020.
It is official #jsu #let’s go, tigers 🐅 @jacksonstatefb pic.twitter.com/UTyzMPgVH6
– Travis Hunter (@TravisHunterJr) December 15, 2021
“The state of Florida has always been a beacon for me,” Hunter said in his Twitter post Wednesday. “I grew up there, that’s where I come from, and I never doubted that I would play for Seminoles.
“It’s a hard dream to let go of, but sometimes we’re called into a future bigger than we can imagine. For me, that future is at Jackson State University.”
At his signing ceremony, Hunter left three baseball caps on the table in front of him as he prepared to make the announcement: State of Florida, Auburn and Georgia.
He threw them one by one off the stage and lifted his shirt to reveal a T-shirt that said Tin. Then he caught sight of a Bang Jackson cap – with a dark blue J on a white background – thrown at him from the crowd and put it on.
A longtime member of the Southwest Athletics Conference, Jackson State won its first SWAC title since 2007 last month.
Hunter visited Georgia during his recruiting process, sparking reports that he might switch to the Bulldogs. Hunter has denied those rumors, saying on social media that he is a Seminole and will not decline in October.
Hunter then visited Jackson State in November to watch the team beat Alcorn State.
“Historically black colleges and universities have a rich history in football,” Hunter said in his post. “I want to be a part of that history and more than that, I want to be a part of that future. I made this decision so that I can pave the way for others to follow, help the next player. realize a little easier. that HBCU can be everything you want and more.”
Sanders signed his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who was an ESPN 300 recruit in 2021, along with potential ESPN 300 clients Katron Evans, Quaydarius Davis and Trevonte Rucker.
At the time, Shedeur Sanders was the highest-ranked pledge Jackson State had signed, but Hunter now holds that position.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
