Video: Jackson State Kicker Leilani Armenta is 1st Woman to Score in FCS HBCU Game
Oct 29, 2023
MEMPHIS, TN - SEPTEMBER 14: A JSU branded helmet on the sideline prior to the Southern Heritage Classic game between the Jackson State University Tigers and the Tennessee State Tigers on Saturday September 14, 2019 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, TN. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Jackson State kicker Leilani Armenta made history in Saturday's 40-14 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, becoming the first woman to score in an HBCU football game at the FCS level.
The freshman made all three of her extra points for the Tigers.
"We did not know it was going to happen and we are super excited," her mother, Brandy, told the Clarion-Ledger's J.T. Keith. "We all started yelling because we had no idea. My daughter had no idea she would be kicking in the game today. We are beyond ecstatic."
Armenta had also appeared in Jackson State's 22-16 win over Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 23, but her involvement was limited to the opening kickoff.
Keith noted Jackson State was without its regular kicker, Gerardo Baeza, against Bethune-Cookman, while starting punter Matt Noll was unavailable as well due to an injury at practice. That led head coach T.C. Taylor to bring Armenta, a defender on the women's soccer team, into the fold.
The Ventura, California, native became the first woman to suit up in a SWAC contest.
Travis Hunter Touted as Star After Jackson State Loses Deion Sanders' Final Game
Dec 17, 2022
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 16: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Jackson State Tigers speaks with members of the press at the Jackson State University team press conference during Cricket Celebration Bowl Media Day at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 16, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Deion Sanders' final game at Jackson State didn't go as planned, with the Tigers losing 41-34 in overtime to North Carolina Central in the Celebration Bowl.
Jackson State tied the game at 34 as time expired on Shedeur Sanders' 19-yard touchdown pass to Travis Hunter on 4th-and-10.
After North Carolina Central scored on the opening possession of overtime, Sanders' pass on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line was incomplete to end the game.
The loss ended Jackson State's quest for a perfect season, but the team still won a program-record 12 games.
Despite the bitter end to his season and his tenure with the Tigers, Deion earned plaudits for what he was able to accomplish in just three seasons as head coach at the program.
At the end of the day I agree. What he said he wanted to do was not in his control from the get go. He stuck 2 the football team from jump instead of changing HBCUs than alot of people would have no problem. All the best to @DeionSanders@JacksonStateU and @CUBuffsFootball
Even in defeat - alongside star players WR/DB Travis Hunter & his son QB Shedeur Sanders, Head Coach Deion Sanders embraces the band & student section of JSU one last time. Going out as professional as he came in! pic.twitter.com/ZyrWEBroXq
Hunter, who is expected to follow Deion and Shedeur to Colorado, continued to show off his Primetime-esque skills. The freshman cornerback caught four passes for 47 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday.
"Travis is Travis Hunter. He's him for a reason," Shedeur Sanders said in describing the game-tying TD in regulation "It wasn't really hard. He did all the work."
Deion Sanders was named Colorado's head coach on Dec. 3. The Pro Football Hall of Famer is taking over a program that has been a mess for years.
The Buffaloes finished the 2022 season with a 1-11 record, the worst scoring defense (44.5 points allowed per game) and fifth-worst scoring offense (15.4 points per game) in FBS.
Colorado has just one winning season since 2017 (4-2 in 2020). It hasn't won a postseason bowl game since the 2004 Houston Bowl.
Sanders is certainly capable of engineering a quick turnaround. Jackson State was coming off seven consecutive losing seasons when he was hired in September 2020.
The Tigers went 27-6 overall and won back-to-back SWAC titles with Sanders as head coach.
'Coach Prime' Trailer Drops for Deion Sanders, JSU Football Docuseries by Prime Video
Dec 15, 2022
JACKSON, MS - DECEMBER 3: Coach Deion Sanders overlooks the warm-up of his team before the start of the Jackson State Tigers and Southern University Jaguars SWAC Football Championship game at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on December 3, 2022, in Jackson, Mississippi. (Photo by Charles A Smith/Jackson State University via Getty Images)
Deion Sanders' final season as head football coach at Jackson State will be the subject of a four-part documentary series on Prime Video from SMAC Productions.
Amazon released the trailer for Coach Prime, along with the announcement the first two parts will be available to stream on Dec. 29.
The series will follow Sanders and the Jackson State Tigers throughout the 2022 season. It will explore how the team and the community banded together over the course of the year, and it will feature a wide range of celebrity guests.
"I am HONORED and ELATED to share this inside look at how our program made HISTORY as JSU's first undefeated regular season football team. This group of young men are SMART, TOUGH, FAST, and DISCIPLINED with CHARACTER, and together, we were able to DOMINATE all season long," said Sanders. "You'll see it all this season—the highs and lows and the way this community came together. This is the most resilient and inspiring group of people I have ever met. I can't say enough about the people of Jackson."
This season marked Sanders' third year with the Tigers program. He built them into an FCS superpower, capped off with a 12-0 record and a SWAC Championship in 2022. It's the first undefeated regular season in school history.
Sanders will conclude his tenure at Jackson State on Dec. 17 against North Carolina Central in the Celebration Bowl. He accepted the head-coaching position at the University of Colorado on Dec. 3.
Jackson State was Sanders' first stint as a head coach at the collegiate level. He went 27-5 and won back-to-back SWAC titles in 2021 and 2022.
Deion Sanders, Jackson State Win 2nd Straight SWAC Title amid HC's Rumored Exit
Dec 4, 2022
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI - DECEMBER 03: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Jackson State Tigers looks on before the game against the Southern University Jaguars of the SWAC Championship game at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on December 03, 2022 in Jackson, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
If Deion Sanders is nearing the end of his tenure as head coach at Jackson State, he went out on a high note.
The Tigers defeated Southern 43-24 to win their second consecutive SWAC Championship title.
Saturday's victory comes amid rumors that Sanders is on the verge of accepting the head-coaching job at the University of Colorado.
Per ESPN's Pete Thamel, Sanders "has been preparing to make an exit" from Jackson State for Colorado and he's spent most of this week "making inquiries to both potential members of his on-field staff and support staff at Colorado" about possibly joining him.
ESPN's Adam Rittenberg added a formal announcement from the University of Colorado about its next head football coach is expected to come on Saturday night or early Sunday.
Update here as #Colorado expected to announce its next coach late tonight or early Sunday, according to sources. The board meeting is a placeholder for now and would only take place if all details are worked out for Sanders’ contract and it’s ready for formal approval. https://t.co/05kUJHTtAt
Sanders confirmed to reporters on a teleconference call earlier this week that he has been offered the Colorado job and has received interest from other programs.
Per Justin Adams of CBS News Colorado, the Buffaloes have offered Sanders a starting salary of $5 million per year and "a bevy of incentives that if reached, could significantly elevate his annual salary."
The Buffaloes have been in the market for a new head coach since they fired Karl Dorrell on Oct. 2. The move came amid an 0-5 start for the team this season and an 8-15 mark under Dorrell since 2020.
Colorado has been a struggling program for years before bottoming out in 2022. It hasn't had a winning record in a full season since 2016. It did go 4-2 during the 2020 campaign that was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team's 1-11 mark this season is tied for the worst in program history (2012).
Ten of the 11 losses were by at least 23 points, with each of its final four games decided by at least 38 points. The Buffaloes have only been to two bowl games since 2008.
Sanders is in his third season at Jackson State. The Pro Football Hall of Famer took over a program that had a combined 21-40 record from 2014-20 under three different head coaches.
The Tigers got off to a modest start under Sanders with a 4-3 record in 2020. After he had a full season to coach the current roster and bring in recruits who fit his system, they took off with a program-record 11 wins and their first conference title since 2007.
Jackson State has been even better in 2022 with Saturday's win capping off a perfect 12-0 regular season. The SWAC champions will take on North Carolina Central in the Celebration Bowl on Dec. 17.
Deion Sanders Denies He'll Make Decision on Colorado, Cincinnati, USF Jobs by Sunday
Nov 30, 2022
JACKSON, MS - OCTOBER 29: JSU head football coach Deion Prime Sanders talks with ESPN commentators during the pre-game show prior to the start of the Jackson State Tigers and Southern University Jaguars NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision game at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Jackson, Mississippi. (Photo by Aron Smith/Jackson State University via Getty Images)
Deion Sanders may remain with Jackson State past Sunday after all.
While Kevin O'Donnell of Fox 13 Tampa Bay reported Sanders has told recruits he will decide between coaching vacancies at Colorado, Cincinnati and USF by Sunday, Carl Reed of 247Sports reported the Pro Football Hall of Famer said "this is not true" during a phone conversation.
Jackson State hired Sanders ahead of the 2020 season, and it didn't take him long to build a powerhouse at the historically Black university program.
The Tigers went 4-3 during his first season, which was shortened and moved to the spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They then went 11-2 in his second season with the only losses coming by five points to UL Monroe and in the Celebration Bowl to South Carolina State.
Sanders' team has taken another step this year and is 11-0 ahead of Saturday's SWAC Championship Game against the Southern Jaguars.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who is the son of the head coach, has completed 70.3 percent of his passes for 3,063 yards, 32 touchdowns and six interceptions while adding 158 yards and five scores on the ground.
Given the quick turnaround at Jackson State and Sanders' status as a Hall of Famer who is instantly recognizable on the recruiting trail with a proven track record as a head coach, it comes as no surprise he would be an attractive hire to programs such as Colorado, Cincinnati and USF.
Colorado and Cincinnati in particular would give him the opportunity to compete for College Football Playoff spots down the line, especially if it expands from four teams to 12. Colorado is in the Pac-12, and Cincinnati is set to join the Big 12.
There would also be less of a rebuilding process ahead with the Bearcats, who were just in the CFP last season and went 9-3 this season. The job is available because Luke Fickell took the Wisconsin coaching spot, but landing Sanders would be a major hire for the program looking to take another step as it joins a Power Five conference.
The Buffaloes, on the other hand, were an ugly 1-11 this season and have finished with more than five wins just once since the 2007 campaign.
But it seems like Sanders leaving for one of those openings isn't an inevitability at this point given his latest comments.
Deion Sanders Confirms Rumors of Being Offered Colorado HC Job
Nov 28, 2022
Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders poses with the trophy after the Orange Blossom Classic NCAA college football game against against Florida A&M, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders confirmed Colorado made him an offer as they search for a new coach.
The Athletic's Bruce Feldman reported Saturday the Buffaloes had made formal overtures to Sanders, who described the report as "true" on Monday. However, he didn't say whether he accepted the offer or intends to stay at Jackson State.
Sanders told 60 Minutes' Jon Wertheim in October he'd be willing to listen if a Power Five school reached out.
"What happens when a Power 5 school says: Give us a number — we'll make it work?'"@DeionSanders: "I'm gonna have to entertain it."
The Hall of Fame cornerback could be out the door sooner rather than later with Jackson State sitting at 11-0 and playing Southern in the SWAC championship on Dec. 3.
With how quickly Sanders' coaching stock has soared, the surprise wouldn't come with Colorado hiring him but rather him choosing Colorado.
The Buffaloes' 63-21 loss to Utah last Saturday dropped them to 1-11 on the season. ESPN's Bill Connelly ranked them 124th in his SP+ ranking, which is the lowest position for a Power Five school.
And while the 2022 season is an outlier, the program has enjoyed little success Gary Barnett resigned toward the end of the 2005 season. Over that span, it has more double-digit loss seasons (five) than bowl appearances (three).
Even at a time when the transfer portal has allowed coaches to perform rapid turnarounds, Colorado is likely a massive rebuilding job.
You'd assume Sanders might be able to hold out for something better in his maiden voyage at the FBS level.
For the Buffaloes, though, the 55-year-old would potentially be exactly what they need since his profile and personality could draw blue-chip recruits to Boulder.
Sanders successfully sold Travis Hunter, the No. 1 overall player in 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2022 class, on his vision at Jackson State. Imagine what he could accomplish with the resources of a Power Five school.
The downside is that Sanders might view Colorado as merely a stepping stone to bigger and better things. Mel Tucker was only there for one season before he bolted to Michigan State for more money and a better situation.
If the next coach—be it Sanders or anybody else—jumps at the earliest opportunity for greener pastures, then the Buffaloes will be right back at square one.
Report: Deion Sanders Offered Colorado HC Job; 'Has Legit Interest' in Position
Nov 26, 2022
Deion Sanders
The University of Colorado has
reportedly offered its football head coaching job to NFL legend and
Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders.
Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman reported
Saturday that Sanders has "legit interest" in the Buffaloes job:
In October, the Pro and College
Football Hall of Famer told CBS' 60 Minutes he'd listen to offers if
a Power Five school showed interest.
"I'm going to have to entertain it," Sanders said. "Straight up. I'd be a fool not to."
The 55-year-old Florida native took
over the Jackson State program in 2020 and quickly turned the Tigers
into an FCS powerhouse. They've compiled a 26-5 record during his
tenure, including an unblemished 11-0 mark so far in 2022.
His name recognition is a major
advantage on the recruiting trail, something that should translate to
the FBS level, and Jackson State has dominated opponents on the
field, racking up a plus-239 (309-70) point differential this season.
So it's not much of a surprise Power
Five schools have started calling.
If he accepts the Colorado job, he'll
be tasked with turning around a program that's posted a 1-10 record
this season and has only finished inside the postseason Top 25 once
since 2003.
In that regard, it would be a soft
landing spot for Sanders, as he'd likely be given significant leeway
to turn around a squad that's nowhere near contention.
Former BYU and Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall
Former Houston and Texas head coach Tom Herman
Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters
Texas co-defensive coordinator Jeff Choate
North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz
Sacramento State head coach Troy Taylor
While Colorado has cast a wide net,
Sanders represents the option with the highest upside in terms of a
turnaround to regain national notoriety.
Jackson State is scheduled to play in
the SWAC Football Championship Game on Dec. 3 against either Prairie
View A&M or Southern. It's unclear whether Sanders will make a
decision before that contest.
Deion Sanders Reportedly in Talks with Colorado, South Florida About HC Openings
Nov 21, 2022
JACKSON, MS - OCTOBER 22: Deion Coach Prime Sander surveys the field of play during the Jackson State Tigers and Campbell Fighting Camels NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision game at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on October 21, 2022 in Jackson, Mississippi. (Photo by Charles A. Smith/Jackson State University via Getty Images)
Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders has reportedly "been in discussions with power-brokers" to potentially fill vacancies at Colorado or South Florida, according to Carl Reed of 247Sports.
Auburn also has an opening, although the school is expected to go in a different direction and has not had contact with Sanders.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer is in his third year with Jackson State, leading the HBCU team to an 11-0 record this season for the first time in school history.
The Tigers went 11-1 during the 2021 regular season, helping Sanders win the Eddie Robinson award as the top head coach in the FCS level.
Recruiting has also been a strength for Sanders, who landed last year's No. 1 overall recruit in cornerback Travis Hunter.
The 55-year-old was a contender for several openings last year, including TCU and Colorado State, according to Chris Hummer of 247Sports.
Sanders now has a chance to land another FBS job with multiple teams reaching out. On the other hand, both situations will require major rebuilds.
Colorado is just 1-10 this season and fired Karl Dorrell after an 0-5 start. The Buffaloes haven't won more than five games in a year since 2016, although they did go to a bowl game during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season.
South Florida is also 1-10 and fired Jeff Scott after he produced a 4-26 record across two-plus seasons.
Though Colorado could provide major-conference experience in the Pac-12, South Florida would be closer to home for the Florida State alum and already have built-in recruiting ties.
Deion Sanders, Jackson State Go Undefeated in Regular Season for 1st Time in History
Nov 20, 2022
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI SEPTEMBER 17: JSU quarterback Shedeur Sanders looks to pass during the downfield during their game against Grambling State. JSU won 66-24 in their home opener. (Aron Smith/Jackson State via Getty Images)
The Jackson State football team has gone undefeated in the regular season for the first time in school history after defeating Alcorn State 24-13 on Saturday.
HISTORY!
Coach Prime and Jackson State go undefeated in the regular season for the first time in program history! 👏 pic.twitter.com/0630aMQkdV
Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback and returner Deion Sanders leads the Tigers in his third season running the program. The year before his arrival, the Tigers went 4-8 in 2019.
They went 4-3 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season before improving to 11-2 with a SWAC title in 2021. The Tigers fell to MEAC champions South Carolina State in the Celebration Bowl.
Jackson State's team is stocked with stars, starting with Sanders' son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who threw 32 touchdown passes. Running back Sy'veon Wilkerson surpassed 1,000 rushing yards. Aubrey Miller Jr. led the team in tackles with 101. They lead a deep and talented roster well-deserving of its No. 10 spot in the Division I-FCS poll.
Should the Tigers win the SWAC conference championship on Dec. 3, they'll earn the right to play MEAC champion North Carolina Central at the Celebration Bowl on Dec. 17.
