Auburn basketball legend and NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley on Thursday voiced his support for his alma mater to hire Jackson State head coach Deion "Prime Time" Sanders to fill its coaching vacancy.
While speaking with "The Next Round," Barkley warned that if Auburn didn't get its next hire right, the football program "could be irrelevant for the next 10 years."
Barkley said he would support whoever Auburn hired but, much like another former Tigers legend, suggested "Coach Prime" was the man for the job.
"I personally want Deion Sanders because I think, number one, he's going to recruit like hell," he outlined. "First of all, Deion's going to win wherever he goes."
"He's going to win or be successful at anything he does. He's got that type of personality," Barkley added.
Barkley highlighted how Sanders handles his players outside of the football facilities and "wants to make men, men."
"[T]hat's what I want from a coach," he continued. "But also, his personality. He's going to recruit; he won't be afraid of coach Saban because you've got to have some star power to go against Coach Saban."
"The Round Mound of Rebound" added he speaks with Sanders weekly and suggested the Jackson State coach would take the Auburn gig if offered.
"He's going to get a great job sooner or later, whether this year or next year," he predicted.
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