No Worries for Deion Sanders: Buffaloes’ Coach Undeterred by Players Leaving Colorado
Deion Sanders addressed the most recent mass exodus of players from Colorado on Thursday while sporting a full gray beard and personalized brown corduroy overalls. And he did it in a conventional way. In response to queries from the media concerning the 11 players who have registered for the NCAA Transfer Portal this week, the second-year Buffaloes coach declined to comment.
“I wish you guys would do a little more homework when you start talking about the portal and understand what we’re losing. What are we losing?” Sanders said.
One media member responded with “potential starters.”
Sanders responded: “Where?”
Sanders laughed when he saw the roles that were posted.
“We’re good. We’re good,” he said. “I trust the recruiting team, I trust our coaches, and please have some faith in me. We’re good.”
Coach Prime talks to the Transfer Portal about the Buffs’ losses:
“I wish you guys do a little more homework when you start talking about the portal and understand what we’re losing.”
#skobuffs #wecoming pic.twitter.com/Zbr38oZjPk— NoSkoZone (@noskozone) April 18, 2024
This week, starter left lineman Savion Washington, former Houston running back Alton McCaskill IV (who redshirted last season), and former five-star cornerback Cormani McClain left Colorado. After Colorado’s 4–8 season concluded, the team has lost 26 scholarship players.
Sanders said of the portal movement: “Quit making a big deal out of nothing. I want to say so much stuff but I can’t.”
Sanders virtually flipped the Buffs’ entire roster after his first spring in Colorado last season, inspiring a wave of players to use the portal.
During McClain’s freshman year in Boulder, Sanders had not held back when publicly criticizing him, telling him that he needed to be more prepared for games and attend team meetings.
“I want the best for him, man. I really do. I want that kid to soar,” Sanders said Thursday. “I want him to man up. I want him to be the best possible athlete, human being and person he can possibly be. I want him to fulfill all those dreams that his mother and he desire. I really, really do, man. I think he’s a young man that is going to find his way real soon.”
The Buffaloes are using this portal window to search for depth. With 56 sacks allowed in 2023, the offensive line ranked 132nd in the FBS, although Sanders expressed confidence in the unit in current position. In December, Colorado recruited five-star left tackle Jordan Seaton and added a number of additional lineman via the portal.
According to Sanders, the coaching staff will keep searching the portal up front for depth. Sanders stated that they hope to add positions like running back, tight end, linebacker, and safety to the site in an interview with DNVR Sports on Wednesday night.
“I know where we are,” Sanders said. “You’ll find out where we are really soon.”
Two of his sons, Shedeur, the starting quarterback, and Shilo, the starting safety, were waiting off to the side before his news conference ended on Thursday afternoon. Sanders brought up Shilo’s earlier this week Instagram story post encouraging players interested in joining Colorado to message them.
“They’re tripping about your post,” Deion said to Shilo.
“You tell them I’m trying to win?” Shilo responded.
When asked to expound on the novel strategy, Shilo stated that during the portal process, players frequently feel more at ease speaking with other players than with coaches.
“My dad said he ain’t hard to find. We aren’t hard to find either,” Shilo said. “I just want to make it easier for guys to come find a new home at Colorado really.”
Shedeur reported that this week, wide receivers, running backs, and tight ends have been contacting him directly.
“There’s a lot of players that’s ready to for sure walk off teams, so it’s a player-to-player thing,” he said. “They don’t want to get in the portal and not have nowhere to go. People are ready. I have a lot of responses.”
We appreciate the attorneys general who filed the interim restraining order at https://t.co/oKyfnZlj3c.
— Rick George (@RickGeorgeCU) April 18, 2024
In response to a tweet from a CU fan site on Wednesday night, Colorado sports director Rick George stated that this portal chapter has been harsh. George’s reply to the quotation tweet said: “Thank the AG’s that filed the temporary restraining order.”
Several state attorneys general, including Phil Weiser of Colorado, have successfully requested restraining orders against the NCAA regarding the NCAA transfer regulations. The NCAA this week unveiled a new transfer regulation that permits players to move and start competing right away as long as they fulfill specific academic standards.
(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)