Former ASU Defensive Lineman B.J. Green Grateful for Lessons He Learned as a Child from Colorado Coach Deion Sanders

Update: After the 2023 football season, B.J. Green entered the transfer portal and committed to the University of Colorado

Deion Sanders holding (from left) Londyn, Kylin and BJ Green during their younger days in Texas. B.J. was a member of Deion Sanders’ Prime level TRUTH team for three years.

EXCLUSIVE STORY

One of the great aspects of being involved with the Phoenix Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. is having the opportunity to meet and mingle with other Black families in the Valley of the Sun! One of the families that I’ve really enjoyed getting to know is the Green family!

They’re from Texas and they make no secret that they are extremely passionate about TEXAS and FOOTBALL!

During the run-up to the October 7 football game between Pac-12 rivals Arizona State University and Colorado, Londyn Green, one of the younger sisters of B.J. Green reached out to PhxSoul.com.

Londyn told PhxSoul.com that Deion Sanders was B.J. Green’s first football coach as a child.

We followed up with the Green family to get more details about their history with Coach Prime.

B.J. is a star defensive lineman for the Sun Devils in his junior year. He’s also a Mechanical Engineering major and a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

PhxSoul.com wanted to break the story immediately, but out of respect for the family’s wishes to avoid causing any distractions, we held onto this interesting news after until after the game.

“Deion coached me for 3 years (from age 6 to 9),” said B.J.

Prior to linking up with Coach Prime, B.J.’s dad played him at the running back position.

“When dad brought me to Coach Prime as a RB, after the open tryouts, Coach Prime and his coaching staff that recognized that I was a defensive-minded player and switched me to (defensive lineman),” said B.J.

Football legends Kevin Mathis, Andre Hart, George Heaven, and Reginald Calhoun were all part of the coaching staff that recognized that B.J. was a defensive-minded player. Deion even brought in NFL Hall of Famer Charles Haley to help coach at times. B.J. played and lined up next to Shedeur (sanders – Colorado quarterback), and EJ (Emmitt Smith, Jr.) on the Prime level TRUTH team.

“Deion is an old-school coach with that iron-sharpens iron-mentality,” B.J. continued. “He always said if you’re the best person in the room then you’re in the wrong room. He made all of us strive to be the best versions of ourselves. That’s why the TRUTH creed was an acronym.”

T – Trust in God
R – Respect myself and others
U – Understand I have unlimited possibilities
T – Try my best and NEVER give up
H – Honor myself and the TRUTH creed at ALL times!

Although Arizona State came up short against the Colorado Buffaloes, 24-27, in their Pac-12 conference game on October 7 in Tempe, B.J. had a great performance with seven tackles and one sack.

In spite of the bitter loss, B.J. reflected fondly on Coach Prime’s impact on his football career.

“Coach Prime taught us to appreciate the real essence of the game. We were taught to view the game from a different angle so the game slowed down for us, and that what really helped me when I got to college here at ASU.”

Let’s hope B.J. is able to take what he learns from all of his coaches and transition those lessons into a successful NFL career!