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- Alabama head coach Nick Saban went off about NIL on Wednesday and called out Jackson State.
- After being accused of accepting a $1 million deal to play for the Tigers, Travis Hunter put Saban in his place.
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Nick Saban let loose on Wednesday evening. After speaking out against the current climate of NIL and recruiting in the past, he went full scorched-earth with a nearly seven-minute rant in which he called out multiple NCAA programs for their practices.
In doing so, Saban claimed that Texas A&M bought every single one of its Class of 2022 recruits, called out Miami for John Ruiz’s bankroll and took a shot at Jackson State and Deion Sanders. He also said that Alabama did not buy a single player, which immediately led to him being exposed as a liar.
During the rant, Saban accused Jackson State of paying $1 million to a “really good Division I player.”
More from Nick Saban tonight: “Jackson State paid a guy a million dollars last year that was a really good Division I player to come to school. It was in the paper. They bragged about it! Nobody did anything about it."
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) May 19, 2022
Most people assumed that he was referring to Travis Hunter Jr. Hunter was the No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2022 and was expected to decide between Florida State and Miami. About an hour before his commitment, there was a lot of buzz about Jackson State. Multiple reports claimed that there was a big NIL package attached to his decision, and ultimately, he ended up choosing the Tigers.
In response to Saban’s $1 million claim, Coach Prime called him a liar. He did not mince his words.
You best believe I will address that LIE Coach SABAN told tomorrow. I was & awakened by my son @ShedeurSanders that sent me the article stating that WE PAYED @TravisHunterJr a Million to play at @GoJSUTigersFB ! We as a PEOPLE don’t have to pay our PEOPLE to play with our PEOPLE.
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) May 19, 2022
And then, on Thursday morning, Hunter addressed the $1 million comments, which he also took as directed toward him, and clowned on Saban. He questioned how his mom could still be living in a three-bedroom home with five children if he had been paid like Saban said.
I got A mil?😂But my mom still stay in a 3 bed room house with five kids 🤣
— Travis Hunter (@TravisHunterJr) May 19, 2022
Sanders also chimed in.
I don’t even make a million! Lolololol 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/wagxbCJoWs
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) May 19, 2022
Hunter’s response is pretty telling. He makes a great point that pretty directly contradicts Saban’s claim. But there is no way of knowing the truth.