HBCU Legends

Shannon Sharpe Disagrees with Deion Sanders on HBCU Talent in 2023 NFL Draft

NFL Hall of Famers and friends disagree whether HBCU talent should have been drafted in the recent 2023 NFL Draft.

Kyle T. Mosley

Shannon Sharpe Disagrees with Deion Sanders on HBCU Talent in 2023 NFL Draft
Shannon Sharpe Disagrees with Deion Sanders on HBCU Talent in 2023 NFL Draft /

Shannon Sharpe, Fox Sports Undisputed co-host with Skip Bayless, disputed Deion Sanders' assessment of the HBCU talent in the 2023 NFL Draft. Sharpe, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and alumnus of an HBCU is a close friend of Sanders. It's not unusual for them to have different opinions on the troubling results for HBCU players after this season's draft.

Jackson State defensive back Isaiah Bolden was selected by the New England Patriots as the 245th overall draft pick in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft.  Sanders tweeted concerning Bolden after the draft, "So proud of you, Isaiah Bolden. You deserved to be drafted much higher, but I'm truly proud of you. I know how much you want this. I'm ashamed of the 31 other NFL teams that couldn't find draft value in ALL of the talented HBCU players & we had 3 more draft-worthy players at JSU."

On Monday morning, Shannon Sharpe responded on the Fox Sports program. "I'm going to disagree with Prime [Deion Sanders] on this one," Sharpe said to Skip Bayless. "I believe if the guys were talented enough to get drafted, I believe they would have got drafted."

Bill Belichick, the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach, and the New England Patriots found something exceptional in Bolden to use a draft pick on him. Bolden demonstrated impressive speed by running a 4.33 40-yard dash at the JSU Pro Day.

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CB Isaiah Bolden; Credit: JSU AthleticsBolden's RAS; Credit: RAS Football Information
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CB Isaiah Bolden; Credit: JSU AthleticsBolden's RAS; Credit: RAS Football Information

The draft results around the HBCU sports circles have been a hotbed topic since Saturday afternoon. HBCU and NFL legend Doug Williams said he was "stunned" that more players didn't receive calls to be drafted. Grambling alumni Williams and James "Shack" Harris have worked tirelessly over the past two seasons to showcase the talents of over 200 HBCU players. The two Grambling alums founded the HBCU Combine or HBCU Legacy Bowl for players to meet professional scouts and executives before the drafts. So, NFL teams had enough tape and resources to properly scout, research, and study prospective HBCU players.

The four top conference commissioners for HBCUs have not issued any statement about the draft results - nor do I expect them to do so.  They meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the executive staff each year to assist their HBCU football programs.  Hopefully, the issue would be addressed.

Currently, 20 undrafted players from HBCUs have either signed UDFA rookie contracts or been invited to attend upcoming rookie mini-camps.

Published
Kyle T. Mosley
KYLE T. MOSLEY

I am Kyle T. Mosley, the Founder, Managing Editor, and Chief Reporter for the HBCU Legends, Saints News Network, and Pelicans Scoop on FanNation a Sports Illustrated team channel since October 2019.  Morehouse Alum, McDonogh #35 Roneagles (NOLA), Drum Major of the Tenacious Four.  My Father, Mother, Grandmother, Aunts and Uncles were HBCU graduates! Host of "Blow the Whistle" HBCU Legends, "The Quad" with Coach Steward, and "Bayou Blitz" Podcasts. Radio/Media Appearances:  WWL AM/FM Radio in New Orleans (Mike Detillier/Bobby Hebert),  KCOH AM 1230 in Houston (Ralph Cooper), WBOK AM in New Orleans (Reggie Flood/Ro Brown), and 103.7FM "The Game" (Jordy Hultberg/Clint Domingue), College Kickoff Unlimited (Emory Hunt), Jeff Lightsly Show, and Offscript TV on YouTube. Television Appearance: Fox26 in Houston on The Isiah Carey Factor, College Kickoff Unlimited (Emory Hunt). My Notable Interviews:  Byron Allen (Media Mogul), Deion Sanders (Jackson State University, Head Coach), Tomekia Reed (Jackson State Lady Tigers Basketball Coach), Taylor Rooks (NBA Reporter), Swin Cash (VP of Basketball - New Orlean Pelicans), Demario and Tamala Davis (NFL Player), Jerry Rice (Hall of Famer), Doug Williams (HBCU & NFL Legend), Emmitt Smith (Hall of Famer), James "Shack" Harris (HBCU & NFL Legend), Cris Carter (Hall of Famer), Solomon Wilcots (SiriusXM NFL Host), Steve Wyche (NFL Network), Jim Trotter (NFL Network), Travis Williams (Founder of HBCU All-Stars, LLC), Malcolm Jenkins (NFL Player), Cam Jordan (NFL), Demario Davis (NFL), Allan Houston (NBA All-Star), Drew Brees (Former NFL QB), Deuce McAllister (Former NFL RB), Willie Roaf (NFL Hall of Fame), Jim Everett (Former NFL Player), Quinn Early (Former NFL Player), Dr. Reef (NFL Players' Trainer Specialist), Nataria Holloway (VP of the NFL). I am building a new team of journalists, podcasters, videographers, and interns.  For media requests, interviews, or interest in joining HBCU Legends, please contact me at kmosley@hbcusi.com. Follow me:

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