NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal had no qualms about what Colorado football coach Deion Sanders had to say when it came to the Pro Football Hall of Famer’s strategy for recruiting high school players.
O’Neal and his co-hosts, Nichelle Turner and Spice Adams, on “The Big Podcast” listened to a clip of Sanders spelling out the specific things he looks for in high school quarterbacks versus what he looks for in a defensive lineman. The former Los Angeles Lakers superstar had no issue with what Sanders said on “The Rich Eisen Show” last month.
“There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s nothing wrong with what he said. You know why I have discipline? You know why I don’t get in trouble? You know why I’m not dumb. Does– -? Daddy took my a—-. A lot of kids don’t have that. A lot of kids have very hard-working moms who actually have to work and grow up on their own. And you left. Go or you can. Go right. Studies show, statistics show, it’s like that.”
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Deion Sanders holds a jersey after being introduced as the new head football coach at the University of Colorado on Dec. 4, 2022, in Boulder. Sanders left Jackson State University after three seasons at the helm of the school’s football team. (AP Photo/David Zlubowski)
O’Neill doubled down on explaining his stance, saying Sanders was “spitting facts.”
Turner disagreed with what Sanders was talking about and wondered if she would count as a quarterback if she didn’t come from a two-parent family.
Sanders made waves in February for the comments.
Shaquille O’Neal attends Shaq’s Fun House Big Game Weekend at Talking Stick Resort on February 10, 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“Well, we have different traits. Smart, tough, fast, disciplined with character. Now, quarterbacks are different,” Sanders told Eisen. “We want mother, father, twin parents. We want that child to be 3.5 [GPA] and above. Because he must be smart. Off the field, not bad decisions at all. For he must become a leader of men.”
Deion Sanders at the center of Colorado’s religion controversy just months before the 2023 season begins
Sanders said he looks for similar characteristics in offensive linemen, but his criteria for the defensive side of the football are different.
Shaquille O’Neal attends the 2023 NBA All Star Ruffles Celebrity Game at Vivint Arena on February 17, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
“Defensive lineman is the exact opposite. Single mama, trying to get by, he’s on a free lunch,” Sanders continued. “I’m just talking about trying to make it. He’s trying to save Mama. Like Mama barely took off. And I want him to go get it.
“It’s a completely different trait that you find at different positions. And we have that stuff just old. We know what we want, and we get it.”
Sanders just completed his first recruiting class at Colorado, making a big splash on Signing Day and pulling in the 21st-ranked class and a top-five transfer portal class, according to 247Sports.
Jackson State Tigers head coach Deion Sanders talks with quarterback Shaydur Sanders during the Orange Blossom Classic against the Florida A&M Rattlers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Sept. 5, 2021. (Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Colorado Buffaloes head football coach Deion Sanders speaks to members of the media on Signing Day at the Dall Ward Athletic Center on Feb. 1, 2023 in Boulder. (Matthew Jones/Media News Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images)
“We’re not doing a typical Tom, Dick and Harry recruitment,” Sanders said. “We’ve recruited some guys that can light up the scoreboard and prevent touchdowns. We’re coming. We’re serious about it.
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“Hope is in the house. Hope is in the air. Hope is in the city. Hope is in the community.”
Fox News’ Joe Morgan contributed to this report.
