TCU football has a wild-card candidate who is reportedly beginning to get some serious consideration to replace Gary Patterson. Jackson State coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is apparently still in the conversation among candidates to become the next coach of the Horned Frogs, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
"I'm not saying he is going to get the job, not saying he's the leading candidate at this point," a source told the Star-Telegram. "But he is in the mix."
Sanders became the coach at HBCU Jackson State in September 2020 and has quickly led the program to national headlines with his dynamic recruiting. Jackson State signed the No. 55 recruiting class in the nation in 2021, ahead of FBS programs like Iowa State, UCF and BYU. Even TCU finished with the No. 53 recruiting class because of a transfer-heavy group.
The Tigers have quickly found success in Sanders' first full season, going 8-1 and holding a 6-0 record in SWAC play. Sanders' son Shedeur -- a former blue-chip recruit who picked JSU over major offers -- leads the team with 2,414 yards passing, 23 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Sanders is also notable in the Metroplex after the infamous Prime Prep charter school debacle. Prime Prep was a high school founded by Sanders that later faced federal investigations after quickly falling into financial insolvency. He served as offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian School in Cedar Hill, Texas, from 2017-20 before getting the Jackson State job. TC-Cedar Hill was terminated from the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools in 2019 after a series of allegations.
Sanders has missed the last three games after undergoing surgery on his foot, according to the The Clarion Ledger. He coached on a scooter for several weeks after the September surgery before doctors asked him to focus on his rest. Running backs coach Gary Harrell has led the program to wins over Texas Southern, Mississippi Valley State and Bethune-Cookman in Sanders' absence.
Other coaches consistently mentioned in the TCU coaching search include SMU head coach Sonny Dykes and Louisiana head coach Billy Napier.
TCU and longtime coach Patterson parted ways on Oct. 31 after 22 seasons together. Assistant and former Minnesota coach Jerry Kill took over the program on an interim basis and led the Horned Frogs to a 30-28 win over Baylor in the first game following Patterson's exit.
