T
he 2020 college football season looked different from previous seasons due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Some teams played in the fall ,while others played in the spring. Most teams played conference-only schedules and in front of fewer fans than standard, due to health restrictions. Unless the current Delta variant spike causes changes—stay tuned—this new season could end up resembling, at least in part, football seasons of years past—with full stadiums and all teams opting into play. If so, one of the biggest storylines to follow will be the focus on years two for three head coaches: Mike Leach at Mississippi State University, Lane Kiffin at the University of Mississippi and Deion Sanders at Jackson State University. The University of Southern Mississippi is starting over with a new head coach for 2021. Be warned, though, that this season could be as unpredictable as 2020 became due to the continued, albeit lessened, coronavirus threat. Players could still miss games, while games themselves could still end up postponed or cancelled. Here are some of my assessments and predictions for the upcoming season.
by Bryan Flynn Jackson State University Tigers
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recruits and mix in solid players who were already with the program. This season we will learn whether Sanders can be an effective head coach or if he was just a big name and not much else. This team has a lot of unknowns with the transfers and recruiting class that is now
2020 Recap: Jackson State University made a major splash by hiring NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders as head coach. Even though Sanders hadn’t been a head coach at the college level beforehand, his hire brought plenty of eyes outside of Mississippi to the program. Due to COVID-19, the Jackson State program had games cancelled or postponed, something every team dealt with over the last season. The Tigers had a fast start in the spring. Winning the first three games in a row, JSU looked unstoppable early in the season. Then, this trajectory abruptly shifted, as JSU lost its next three games. With the exception of a blowout by Southern University, though, the Tigers’ losses were close with a difference of seven and nine points. A forfeit win over Alcorn State University gave JSU its last win of the season. In a bummer end to Sanders’ first season, the game against Prairie View A&M University ended up cancelled due to COVID-19. Season Overview: Jackson State has plenty of talent for the upcoming season as Sanders has recruited well and gained plenty of transfers from other schools. This will be the first season that Sanders gets to coach the players he has brought to the program. Expect the Tigers to improve on both sides of the ball as Sanders gets to play his
Sanders will start his son Shedeur Sanders at quarterback after coaching him in high school. His play will go a long way to determining how successful the Tigers are this season. The Tigers need to keep their 35.7 per game scoring average or improve on
Shedeur Sanders, son of head coach Deion Sanders, will join JSU this fall and is projected to play quarterback for the Tigers as a true freshman.
on campus. The Tigers may take a game or two before everything begins to click into place, but once it does, this team could be a juggernaut. Be on the lookout and watch their progress.Outlook:
courtesy jackson state university athletics
August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms
Head coach: Deion Sanders (4-3 overall, 4-3 at JSU, entering 2nd season at JSU) 2020 record: 4-3 overall; 3-2 SWAC Radio: 95.5 FM Stadium: Veterans Memorial Stadium
the scoring to keep pace with other highscoring offenses. The defense must improve on its 26 points per game average. JSU can improve on offense after previously finishing last in time of possession and
protecting the quarterback and after giving up 14 sacks to finish next to last in sacks allowed. The defense gave up 378.2 yards per game and a SWAC-high 21 touchdowns, both of which must improve this season. 2021 Prediction: JSU adds Florida A&M University and Bethune-Cookman University to the schedule this year as both teams join the SWAC from the MEAC. Both schools will come in and compete right away as JSU plays Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic in Miami, Fla., and Bethune-Cookman will come to Jackson. Out-of-conference games against Tennessee State University, the University of Louisiana at Monroe and Delta State University will be tough tests. Winning two of the three will be important for building the program. This season will be a success if the Tigers enter their final game against Alcorn State University in contention for a SWAC East title. Sanders getting the most out of the current and influx of talent will show his growth as a head coach. Another disappointing season will really take the shine off the Sanders hire. The JSU fan base expects to win right now due to the program’s rich history. Prediction: 7-4 Schedule: Sept. 5 Florida A&M (neutral site); Sept. 11 Tennessee State (neutral site); Sept. 18 @ Louisiana Monroe; Sept. 25 Delta State; Oct. 9 @ Alabama A&M; Oct. 16 Alabama State; Oct. 23 Bethune-Cookman; Oct. 30 @ Mississippi Valley State; Nov. 6 Texas Southern; Nov. 13 @ Southern; Nov. 20 Alcorn State
