Former NFL defensive back Terrell Buckley had an outstanding career, which included starting against the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI on Feb. 3, 2003, in New Orleans. Buckley had three tackles (two solo) in the Patriots’ 20-17 upset victory over the favored Rams.
Buckley is also part of an answer to a sports trivia question: Who are the two NFL defensive backs to intercept 50 or more passes and never make it to a Pro Bowl. It is Buckley and the late Ken Riely, who starred with Cincinnati and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame posthumously in 2023.
Following his career, Buckley climbed the ranks as an assistant coach at his alma mater Florida State, then coached at Akron, Louisville, Mississippi State, and Mississippi.
He served as head coach of the United Football League Orlando Guardians in 2022, and the team did not move to the XFL the following season. Buckley then made a move that is catching on in college football.
In January, Buckley was hired as head coach of Mississippi Valley State, the HBCU in Itta Bena, Miss., which produced Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice and the late defensive lineman Deacon Jones.
“Why Valley for me? I am Mississippi Made. I have dreamed of being a head coach in the state of Mississippi,” Buckley, a native of Pascagoula, Miss., said during his introductory press conference.
“We’re going to build a culture of accountability, hard work, and belief. Winning starts with the standards we set and the mindset we bring every single day.
Current former NFL players at HBCUs include Michael Vick, Norfolk State; DeSean Jackson, Delaware State; Cris Dishman, Texas Southern; and Eddie Robinson Jr., Alabama State.
Robinson, of course, is the son of the late College Football Hall of Fame member Eddie Robinson of Grambling.
Eddie George left Tennessee State after the 2024 season to serve as Bowling Green head coach, and Deion Sanders spent two seasons at Jackson State before moving to Colorado in 2023.
As for Buckley, he was praised by Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin not only for his coaching aptitude, but also for success in recruiting.
Just five months into his tenure at Mississippi Valley, Buckley landed eye-opening recruit Dante Kelly, who had played for Vanderbilt and Southern Miss.
A former 3-star recruit and Itta Bena native, Kelly was named Mississippi Small School All-State after leading Leflore County High School with 105 tackles and four interceptions. He ranked among the top 50 players in Mississippi.
Buckley and Kelly join a Delta Devils team that hasn’t posted a winning season in 11 years, and went 1-11 in 2024.
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Jerry Rice’s quarterback at Mississippi Valley State was Willie Totten, who played one NFL season, the NFL strike year of 1987. He is now quarterbacks coach for Southern University…Denver’s Aaron Gordon valiantly played with a hamstring injury during Denver’s game seven NBA Western Conference semifinal loss to Oklahoma City, then said the NBA should space out playoff games. Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum, and Damian Lillard suffered injuries during the postseason. “You saw it around the league like Steph with the hamstring, JT, big respect to Jayson Tatum man I hope he gets better quick. There’s guys like Dame, suffering fatigue-based injuries because the games are so closely stacked together,” said Gordon. The NBA should listen to him…NBA Eastern Conference Final, New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers. NBA Western Conference Final, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves. The stage is set for the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton, Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Wolves’ Anthony Edwards to prove they are the NBA’s best young player. My money is on Edwards…Seth Jones, an NHL player of color, led the Florida Panthers to a game seven 6-1 win over Toronto to reach the East Conference Final against Carolina. Jones had a goal and an assist in the victory.