Deion Sanders Says Jackson State 'Not Ready' to Face Alabama: 'Give Me Another Year'

Jackson State football head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders said during SWAC Media Day that his team isn't ready to play Alabama, but he is open to it down the road.

He's not going to play us right now. We are not prepared for that. We don't want to sacrifice our children to get a check. I need to be given another year.

At SEC media days, a question about whether he'd be open to playing in-state HBCUs Alabama State and Alabama A&M was posed to the Alabama coach by a reporter.

"I believe I can see," he said. We've tried to be helpful. Stillman College has a board of trustees. I've always been in favor of playing in-state schools because I think it helps them raise their level and their ability to compete, which obviously if you do that, you also contribute to how successful the players in those organizations can be.

Jackson State's football team was one of the best in the country in 2011. They lost to South Carolina State in the Celebration Bowl after winning the SWAC.

The size differential on the lines of scrimmage is preventing him from meeting with Power Five schools right now.

He said he needed to increase his strength in the front. Those big guys in the middle are the difference between Power 5s and HBCUs. It's not the quarterbacks, it's not the receiver or the defensive backs. The big dogs are in the center. To compete with that, we need to beef up that.

A 5-star athlete was added to the mix by the man. Hunter signed a million dollar deal with Jackson State. The report was denied by Hunter and he made his own comments.

COACH PRIME @DeionSanders

You best believe I will address that LIE Coach SABAN told tomorrow. I was & awakened by my son @ShedeurSanders that sent me the article stating that WE PAYED @TravisHunterJr a Million to play at @GoJSUTigersFB ! We as a PEOPLE don’t have to pay our PEOPLE to play with our PEOPLE.

It is possible for the team to reach greater heights and compete well against Division I-FBS programs in the future. It is a possibility, but it is not imminent.