The 2023 NFL Draft saw only one HBCU player get drafted, which former Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders criticized heavily. Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay fired back against Sanders’ comments on Tuesday.
Jackson State defensive back Isaiah Bolden was the only player from an HBCU school that heard his name called at the NFL Draft. The Patriots took a chance on him with their final pick of the draft.
Deion Sanders didn’t mince words about how he felt about the situation, saying that the other 31 teams should be “ashamed” to not select an HBCU player.
So proud is you @isaiahbolden23 You deserved to be drafted much higher but I'm truly proud of u. I know how much u 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. pic.twitter.com/BfEm3zIGPH
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) April 30, 2023
Will McClay spoke about Sanders’ comments, saying that he understands why Sanders wants to see HBCU players get selected.
“Deion’s doing a great job of promoting HBCUs and promoting Colorado and all those things,” McClay told Sports Illustrated’s Mike Fisher. “And so that’s part of what the deal is. He wants to see players drafted. We want to draft good football players and good football players come from everywhere.”
McClay then made it clear that there is no conspiracy against HBCU players. He claims that players simply “need to have a draftable grade” to be selected.
“There’s not a conspiracy against drafting HBCU players. We’re looking for players that can come from anywhere. I think that we’ve had the opportunities in the NFL in having things to highlight the HBCU schools. The players have to have draftable grades.”
Sanders’ comments certainly seem a little hypocritical considering his move to Colorado recently. He wants the NFL to draft players from HBCUs, but he himself opted to leave Jackson State in favor of a Power Five conference job at Colorado.
