It’s the flip of the century!
The No.1 high school football recruit has just committed to Jackson State University (JSU) and will play for Deion Sanders, Yahoo Sports reports.
Rival.com’s 2022 No.1 player, Travis Hunter, has shocked the world on signing day, revealing that he has committed to playing for Jackson State. Apparently, Hunter has been committed to playing at Florida State since March of 2020. While there has been speculation about him making a dash from FSU, possibly to his hometown of Georgia, no one could’ve ever guessed that he would totally flip the script and commit to playing for Deion Sanders at an HBCU.
Hunter’s decision came during a signing day announcement at his school. Laid out before the star athlete were three hats, one from Florida State, another from Georgia and an Auburn hat. As he picked up each hat, trying them on before throwing them to the side to screams from the crowd. When he got to the last one, he asked his mother to throw him a hat, putting on a Jackson State fitted and unzipping his jacket to reveal a JSU t-shirt. The crowd went wild with roars of shock and applause in the room.
The moment Travis Hunter made his decision to flip to Jackson State
— Rivals (@Rivals) December 15, 2021
(Via @11AliveNews) pic.twitter.com/pbNv6ojCy1
“Florida State has always been a beacon for me. I grew up down there, that’s where my roots are, and I never doubted that I would play for the Seminoles. It’s a dream that is hard to let go of, but sometimes we are called to step into a bigger future than the one we imagined for ourselves. For me, that future is at Jackson State University... Historically Black Colleges and Universities have a rich history in football. I want to be part of that history, and more, I want to be part of that future. I am making this decision so that I can light the way for others to follow, make it a little easier for the next player to recognize that HBCUs may be everything you want and more," Hunter said in a statement.
It’s OFFICIAL #jsu #gotigers 🐅 @jacksonstatefb pic.twitter.com/UTyzMPgVH6
— Travis Hunter (@TravisHunterJr) December 15, 2021
"I look forward to working with the iconic Deion Sanders, and especially with my fellow Tigers. Along with Coach Prime, they have made me feel like I’m already part of the team. Like I’m home. And I can’t wait to welcome the next class of top athletes into the family of HBCUs."
Sanders, a star at Florida State before his wildly successful NFL career, had effectively pulled off the recruiting heist of the century, all to the detriment of his alma mater. The Hall of Famer isn’t new to these types of recruits though, recently securing a number of players with previous Power Five offers to JSU. De’Jahn Warren, a top junior college cornerback, signed with JSU after previously committing to Georgia last year. Sanders and JSU also brought on four-star tackle Javonte Gardner, four-star defensive tackle Katron Evans, four-star receiver Trevonte Rucker, three-star defensive tackle Braezhon Ross and three-star linebacker Baron Hopson, and that was just in 2021. Sanders is showing through action that HBCUs are not only viable contenders against Power Five schools but also have significant benefits for star athletes.
The JSU Tigers currently boast an 11-1 record, recently winning the SWAC title. Next, they’ll face off against MEAC champions, South Carolina State, in the Celebration Bowl. While Sanders is only in his second season as head coach at JSU, he has a 15-4 record as a coach and interviewed for multiple Power Five jobs. With his latest results and his expert recruiting strategy, he’s sure to get even more spotlight in the next season.
Congratulations Travis and S/O to Coach Prime!