Jackson State Football: Deion Sanders make change at quarterback

This weekend against Alabama A&M, there will be a different number behind center for Jackson State football. Instead of Jalon Jones’ familiar number four, JSU fans will see number eight. That number belongs to freshman quarterback Quincy Casey who makes the first start of his young career this weekend.

Jones has played well this spring, for the most part, throwing eleven touchdowns and three interceptions. However, all three interceptions have come in the last two games, both losses against Alabama State and Southern.

Jackson State football needed a change

Not only has Jones thrown the interceptions, but Jones has also completed well under 60 percent of his passes. Despite the poor passing, Jones has shown the ability to pick up yards with his legs in the last two games. Jones is not solely to blame for his struggles. According to coach Sanders, the offensive line “hasn’t blocked anyone in weeks.”

Though Casey has not started this season, the Memphis, Tennessee native has played sparingly this spring. Casey saw mop-up duty against both Edward Waters and Mississippi Valley State. On the season, Casey has completed 13 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown.

According to Sanders, Casey was supposed to play against Southern. “But he was getting ready to go in,” Sanders said. “And it wasn’t just because we needed to get away from Jalon. We needed to — you know — get Quincy some work.”

Casey has his work cut out for him against an aggressive, stingy defense. Though the Bulldogs have played just one game this season, they were stingy against South Carolina State, allowing just 297 yards of total offense and 5.1 yards per play.

This change could be a move to set the depth chart for the fall as coach Sanders’ son and four-star Shedur Sanders will battler for the starting job in the fall.