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Deion Sanders surprises former Jackson State cameraman Santee Marshall with full football scholarship

Santee Marshall received a big surprise on Saturday night.

After the Jackson State football team's 28-7 homecoming win over Alabama State at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, coach Deion Sanders told him he had earned a full football scholarship.

"My whole team was just congratulating me," Marshall said. "It was a good feeling. I felt like I worked for it, so I was just happy about it, for real."

Marshall's parents were in the locker room when the running back received the news. He said Sanders' family played the surprise well.

"His mother played her role really well," Sanders said before laughing.

Marshall was a transfer from DII Miles College in Alabama. He transferred under JSU's previous coaching staff led by John Hendrick in hopes to walk on, but he had to find another way to get on the roster once Sanders was hired. He went to JSU's open tryouts under Sanders and missed the cut.

After tryouts, Marshall talked to JSU assistant Otis Riddley, who told him to try to get on staff in an attempt to get closer to the new coaching staff. Marshall then reached out to JSU's director of video services Ahmon Lott to get on the video team in attempt to get closer to the coaching staff and Marshall was brought on as a camera operator tasked with filming practices.

Marshall asked Riddley for opportunities to practice and one day, his wish was granted. In practice, Marshall broke free for a touchdown.

"Every time he gets a carry, he's running it into the end zone in practice," Sanders said.

After his practice performances, Marshall earned his way on the field.

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He had a breakout performance against Alabama A&M at the end of the spring season with 126 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, which earned him a spot of the Tigers' fall depth chart. On Saturday, Sanders said his plan was to offer Marshall the scholarship all season, but he was waiting until he ran for 100 yards in a game.

He finished with 96 on Saturday.

"His commitment to excellence and his consistency rewarded him a scholarship," Sanders said. "Not me. He did that, and he's a model to any walk-on in the country of his resilience and I love him to life."

Sanders spoke highly of Marshall's story as a lesson that goes beyond football.

"He brings hope," Sanders said. "Forget the program. He brings hope to people. You're talking about a guy who was holding the darn camera last year? Filming guys he knows darn well he was better than? Waited patiently until he saw an opportunity, and when the opportunity presented itself, he presented himself?"

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Deion Sanders surprises ex-Jackson State cameraman with scholarship