In the fall of 2020, De’Jahn Warren was a big jewel in the first Jackson State class for Deion Sanders.
Fast forward two-and-a-half years and Warren is one of hundreds of prospects hoping to hear his name called in the NFL Draft at the end of this month.
Warren, AKA ‘Nugget,’ recently spoke with the NFL Network about his drive to get to the next level. He spoke about his road from Lackawanna College to committing to the University of Georgia before flipping to Jackson State.
“It humbled me a lot because it taught me that in order to be an athlete, you have to be a student first,” Warren told the interviewers. “You can’t do nothing without the grades. And I had a lot of good people in my corner as well because there was times I wanted to give up and times I almost gave up. But I just had good people around me.”
A De’Jahn Warren endoresement
One big person in Warren’s corner was Coach Prime.
“Nugget is the kind of kid that when he learns the intricate details of this game – the do’s and don’ts and situation, hand placement and all that – Nugget is going to be a problem,” Sanders said in his 2021 documentary.
Warren played in a total of 24 games from spring 2021 through fall 2022. He was a starter in six of those games and added a 20-yard interception to go along with 51 tackles. His numbers weren’t eye-popping as he had to fight for playing time in a talented Jackson State defensive backfield. The secondary featured top defensive back prospect Travis Hunter as well as fellow class of 2023 NFL Draft prospect Isaiah Bolden.
Since the season ended, he’s participated in the HBCU Legacy Bowl and its adjoining Pro Day. He also worked out atJackson State’s Pro Day hoping to impress NFL teams. Only time will tell if it has worked. The NFL Draft is April 27 – 29.