Jackson State football, Deion Sanders has Alabama State coach taking notice

Alabama State coach Donald Hill-Eley had nothing but positive words for Jackson State coach Deion Sanders on Monday's Southwestern Athletic Conference conference call.

"I think is a game changer as it relates to HBCU football," Hill-Eley said. "You have a man that has for 30 years built a platform of entertainment, and a persona that people like to see. Aflac commercials, all kind of stuff that's going on, that you can't, as a program compete with that part."

After Sanders challenged other SWAC teams to put players' names on their jerseys, Alabama State alums pitched in money to allow Hornets' players to put names on their jerseys. Once Michael Strahan gifted JSU with tailored suits, ASU alums pitched in again to get the Hornets 100 new suits.

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"The more we can get five young men, hey, I wish the brother well," Hill-Eley said. "I hope he can continue to bring his guys, but even when it comes down to recruiting. If he's bringing attention to his program, it's bringing attention to all of our programs, which causes all of us to benefit."

Alabama State (3-2, 2-1 SWAC) will play at Jackson State (4-1, 2-0) at 2 p.m. Saturday for the Tigers' homecoming game. JSU is coming off its biggest win of the Sanders era with a 61-15 victory over Alabama A&M. It was the most points the program has scored in 20 years.

"It still comes down to X's or O's," Hill-Eley said. "Then, which Jim and Joe you got doing it."

The Jims and Joes that Jackson State has this season is significantly different from the team that lost to ASU 35-28 in the spring. 

"They had a lot of young men in the spring that couldn't play," Hill-Eley said. "Now, they're able to play. He's got both his sons who are great football players, one on defense, one on offense. He ended up (bringing in) a defensive line with some guys that have great size and great motors. A wealth of talent that was added that was sitting out there so it's a different ballgame. It's a different team that we're facing."

Contact Rashad Milligan at 601-862-6198 or Jmilligan@gannett.com. Follow @RashadMilligan on Twitter.