Deion Sanders signs on as Colorado coach, then tells players to transfer in his first team meeting
Deion Sanders says he's ready to make changes at Colorado, and if the current players aren't on board, they should look to play elsewhere.
AP Photo/David Zalubowski
- Deion Sanders was named the next head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes.
- In his first meeting with his new players, Sanders promised change within the program, telling those that weren't ready for the new era to enter the transfer portal.
- "I want y'all to get ready to go ahead and jump in the portal and do whatever you're gonna get because if more of you jump in, the more room you make," Sanders said.
Deion Sanders is already making an impression as the new face of Colorado Buffaloes football.
On Sunday, Sanders was in Boulder to be introduced as the new head coach at Colorado, having spent the past three years leading Jackson State. Over the past two seasons, Sanders led the Tigers to a 23-2 record, including an undefeated campaign in 2022.
In his first action as the head coach of Colorado, Sanders was blunt in his desire to take the team in a new direction.
Sanders introduced his son Shedeur as the team's new starting quarterback. Shedeur has started at Jackson State for the past two seasons.
—Grace Remington (@GraceRemiTV) December 4, 2022
Speaking with current players on the Colorado roster, Sanders made it clear that he was ready to bring several more players over from his Jackson State squad, saying that drastic change was coming to the program. He went as far as to invite those players that weren't ready for the new Coach Prime era to take their talents to the transfer portal.
"We've got a few positions already taken care of because I'm bringing my luggage with me," Sanders said. "And it's Louis."
He continued:
"It ain't going to be no more of the mess that these wonderful fans, the student body, and some of your parents have put up with for probably two decades now. I'm coming. And when I get here, there's going to be change. So I want y'all to get ready to go ahead and jump in the portal and do whatever you're gonna get because if more of you jump in, the more room you make."
—College FB Transfer Portal (@CollegeFBPortal) December 4, 2022
In addition to Sanders' son, other high-profiles recruits are expected follow to Colorado, including cornerback Travis Hunter, who had been a highly coveted five star recruit. Three players expected to join Jackson State next season announced plans to decommit from the school in light of Sanders' move.
Sanders' desire for change is not surprising given the recent struggles of Colorado, who went 1-11 in 2022 and have had just two winning seasons since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, one of them being a COVID-shortened campaign in 2020.
Just once over the past decade have the Buffaloes finished with more than three conference wins.
That said, it's a pretty bold statement to introduce yourself to your new team by inviting any and all listening to walk out the door.
If Sanders brings in a brand new roster of players, inserts his son at quarterback, and immediately brings Colorado football back to relevance, no one will question the plan in hindsight. However, if things don't go according to plan, it could an uphill battle for Coach Prime.
Sanders still has work to finish with Jackson State before taking over in Colorado full time, with the Tigers set to play North Carolina Central on December 17.
After that, he and the Buffaloes will have nine months to prepare before starting their 2023 season with a big test against TCU the first weekend of September.