South Gwinnett News

The nation's top football recruit, Travis Hunter, has announced his intention to attend Jackson State, a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) that is coached by NFL legend Deion Sanders, according to Fox 5. 

In a Tweet, Hunter said, "I am making this decision so that I can light the way for others to follow, make it a little easier for other players to realize HBCUs may be everything you want and more: an exciting college experience, a vital community and a life-changing place to play football."

The commitment to Jackson State means that Hunter has decommitted from Florida State, which is Sanders' alma mater. Hunter told Fox 5 that his inspiration for switching over to an HBCU comes from the many football legends that have attended HBCUs.

Sanders has said that HBCUs should be in the mix for the top athletes in the country. "If a kid is good enough for a Power 5 school, why isn't he good enough for us?" Sanders said in a Sports Illustrated article in October 2020. "I don't know where we started thinking HBCUs are beneath us as a people." 

Hunter, a five-star defensive back from Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, is a highly sought-after prospect, being ranked first in the nation by 247Sports. He achieved the highest possible composite ranking of 0.9999. 

Hunter's athletic profile says that he is a defensive back, but he is a true two-way player, Fox 5 reported. He played on offense in high school, catching 46 touchdowns, tallying 3,807 total offensive yards, and also recording 19 interceptions. In Collins Hill's state championship win over Milton, he led the way with 153 receiving yards. 

Jackson State hired Sanders in September 2020. This year, the team has gone 11-1 overall and 8-0 against SAC opponents. 

Hunter's flip isn't the first of its kind. Many athletes are deciding to commit to HBCUs instead of going the traditional route in order to bring attention to these schools and level the playing field.