Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders was not satisfied with the results of the 2023 NFL Draft when only a player from a historically black college or university (HBCU) was selected.
Jackson State cornerback Isaiah Bolden was the only HBCU player taken, selected by the New England Patriots in the seventh round.
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders during the spring game at Folsom Field in Boulder on April 22, 2023. (Ron Chenoy-USA Today Sports)
Sanders, whose first coaching stop was at HBCU Jackson State University, expressed disappointment on social media after the completion of the draft.
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«He is so proud [sic] you [Isaiah Bolden] You deserved to be drafted so much higher, but I’m really proud of you. I know how much you want this,» Sanders said on Twitter. «I’m ashamed of the other 31 [NFL] teams that couldn’t find draft value in ALL of HBCU’s talented players and we had 3 more draftable players at JSU.»
On Monday, Bolden took to social media to thank New England for the opportunity and to agree with Sanders’ view.
Bolden transferred from florida state to Jackson State after the 2019 season. He starred on special teams in 2021 when he led the nation in kickoff return average with 36.9 yards per attempt. In 2022, he had 260 total yards but didn’t return any kicks after Oct. 15.
Jackson State Tigers defensive back Isaiah Bolden on the sideline during the Florida A&M Rattlers game at Hard Rock Stadium on September 4, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
On defense in 2022, he had 44 total tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
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Bolden was the second player coached by Sanders to be selected in the NFL Draft, with James Houston being taken in the sixth round by the Detroit Lions in 2022.
Four HBCU players were selected during the 2022 NFL Draft.
Defensive back Isaiah Bolden of the Jackson State Tigers during the Orange Blossom Classic game at Hard Rock Stadium on September 4, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
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Sanders left Jackson State in December to take the head coaching job at the colorado university.
The Buffaloes have been largely irrelevant for the past two decades, going 1-11 in 2022 and winning double-digit games just once since 2002.
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report