Deion Sanders talks Travis Hunter, why he beloved taking part in each methods

Deion Sanders sees lots of himself in Travis Hunter.

Actually, when the previous Jackson State head coach — now the top coach on the College of Colorado — secured a dedication from the five-star defensive again out of Suwanee, Georgia again in 2021, he started to map out a plan of easy methods to greatest make the most of Hunter’s distinctive talent set on each side of the ball.

“(Travis) has a need within him that’s insatiable,” stated Sanders, who joined FOX Sports activities’ Shannon Sharpe on a latest episode of his podcast, “Membership Shay Shay.” “There’s a love and there’s a like, and he (Hunter) likes to play receiver. When the ball is in his arms, he’s electrical.”

Deion Sanders believes he might’ve made the Corridor of Fame as a receiver

After formally being named the top coach at Colorado on Dec. 3, Sanders went to work on ensuring Hunter was on board to affix him in Boulder. Certain sufficient, Hunter made it official that he could be becoming a member of “Coach Prime,” making an announcement on his Instagram web page Wednesday.

If there’s anybody match to teach a younger, uber-talented athlete on easy methods to excel on each side of the ball, it’s Sanders.

As a two-time Tremendous Bowl champion, six-time first-team All-Professional choice and member of each the Professional Soccer and School Soccer Corridor of Fame, Sanders is called the most effective defensive backs to ever play the sport of soccer. However nearly as good as he was at locking down opposing huge receivers, Sanders was fairly a risk on the offensive facet of the ball as properly.

Over 14 NFL seasons, Sanders hauled in 60 catches for 784 yards and three touchdowns. Nearly all of these catches got here through the 1996 NFL season, when he was constantly taking part in each methods for the Dallas Cowboys.

Sanders shared with Sharpe that he acquired loads of criticism for making an attempt to play each huge receiver and defensive again, and that many individuals have been skeptical of the concept he could possibly be profitable taking part in each methods.

“I obtained to a sure degree and folks began telling me I couldn’t do each,” Sanders instructed Sharpe. “I by no means tried to show anybody incorrect as a result of I don’t care about others’ opinions … as a result of the opinion you might have of me is just not the opinion I’ve of myself.”

Sanders completed the 1996 season with 36 receptions for 475 yards and a rating. He averaged greater than 13 yards per catch en path to being named first-team All-Professional.

“I did it as a result of it’s what I beloved to do, and I knew I might assist my staff win,” Sanders stated of taking part in each methods. “The staff was going to do higher getting the ball in my arms.”

When requested if he might have made the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame taking part in strictly huge receiver, Sanders didn’t hesitate for a second.

“I’d’ve been All-Professional. I’d’ve made it to the Corridor of Fame,” Sanders stated. “I really imagine it.”

Sanders envisions an identical path for Hunter, who will probably be one of the intriguing gamers within the nation when he takes the sphere for Colorado in 2023.

When requested what separates Hunter from different gamers he has coached, Sanders was fast to credit score Hunter’s capability to step up and play his greatest on the largest moments.

“Lots of guys are afraid of the second,” Sanders stated. “They are saying they need the rock, however then they don’t win. When he’s calling for it … he’s gonna win.”

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