Brothers off the field, DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick turned rivals for a momentous night last Thursday. Both are in their debut seasons as college football head coaches. But the duo have always been firm about making HBCU football a talking point. Deion Sanders paved the way for them to make that happen, and they sure are making him proud.

The DSU-NSU clash wasn’t just any regular HBCU football game. This was two historically struggling programs entering this game with two very prolific ex-NFL players to lead them. It was a historic feat for HBCU football, since the impact that Jackson and Vick were bringing was colossal. Deion Sanders, who championed the cause of HBCU football at Jackson State, couldn’t help but turn emotional. “This Brought tears to my eyes! I love these brothers to LIFE & they know it. Thank you men for answering the call,” he shared on X.

Deion Sanders put HBCU football on the map when he began his coaching career at Jackson State. For a program at that level to be coached by one the legends of the NFL was unheard of. Sanders brought 2 back-to-back SWAC conference titles for the Tigers. And, Jackson State was also co-champions of the HBCU football Championship in 2021. The last time the Tigers won the title was back in 1996.

Deion Sanders had the country looking at an FCS program like it was part of the Power 4. Not only that, but Sanders also turned around the recruiting there. Jackson State was the first HBCU program to sign a 5-star recruit in Travis Hunter (since 2006). TC Taylor, who succeeded Sanders, is also on a roll himself. The Tigers are the reigning HBCU football champions this year. This newfound burst of success in HBCU football was set in motion by Coach Prime first.

DeSean Jackson is scripting some history of his own at Delaware State, which is on a high point it has longed to reach for many years. The Hornets are now No. 1 in the MEAC conference after defeating Vick’s Spartans. It was a night worth remembering for HBCU football fans everywhere.

DeSean Jackson “proud” for pulling off the DSU-NSU clash with success

More than 47,000 fans watched the big game unfold at the Lincoln Financial Field on October 30. They were also joined by NFL greats like Hugh Douglas, Cam Newton, and Marshawn Lynch. Delaware State beat Norfolk State 27-20. DeSean Jackson walked away a winner, and Michael Vick hauled in yet another loss. But scoreboard aside, the two knew how crucial this game was for their cause, no matter what the result.

This clash was just the beginning. “I’m just proud of, man, both of us,” Jackson said after the game. “We’re in a position where we’re inspiring, changing young men’s lives at HBCUs. Man, it don’t get no better than that.” Jackson was lifted up in the air by his team after the victory, proof of his impact at a program that only brought 2 wins in total over the last two seasons. HBCU football is in for a change, with Vick and Jackson leading the charge.

The DSU coach had already credited Coach Prime as an inspiration. “Coach Prime, man, I can’t stress enough about how he’s opened doors up for guys like myself,” Jackson told All Facts, No Breaks before the season. “We talked about Michael Vick being at Norfolk. We play this year. Just being able to learn from guys like him that’s been at an HBCU when he was at Jackson State, now he’s at Colorado, it’s a stepping stone for me,” he’d added. After the historic clash last night, the two have shown that Deion Sanders’ work for HBCU football is not lost.