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Deion Sanders arrived in Boulder in 2023 with a swagger that turned heads and a plan that shook up Colorado football. After a dismal one-win season in 2022, the Buffaloes managed four victories in Sanders's first year-not a miracle, but a start. Then came last season: nine wins, a No. 25 national ranking, and a spotlight that refused to dim. Much of that success came from Shedeur Sanders, Deion's son and the team's quarterback, who dominated defenses before heading to the Cleveland Browns of the NFL.
For the first time since Deion started coaching at the NCAA level in 2021-when he and Shedeur lit up Jackson State-the old man is on his own. No more father-son sideline duo. Off the field, Sanders has turned Boulder into a magnet for talent and cash, raking in major transfer portal hauls and NIL deals that had Shedeur and Heisman champion Travis Hunter at the top of the NIL value charts last year. Now, with both stars gone, it's time for Coach Prime to prove himself.
Transfer Portal Wins and High School Hiccups
Sanders has a gift for convincing college football players to his team. The proof is in the numbers: Thirty transfer portal commitments for the 2025 season! That's the kind of haul that makes rivals sweat. However, when it comes to high school recruits, the Buffaloes are struggling-they have only two commitments for the 2026 class, which leaves them in 15th place in the Big 12. That might change soon, though, with Preston Ashley in the mix.
Ashley, a four-star cornerback from Mississippi, has Colorado on his shortlist alongside Florida State and Florida. He's a menace: 134 tackles, two interceptions, and seven breakups over two seasons at Brandon High School, according to On3's rankings. He's ranked as the No. 22 cornerback and No. 249 player nationwide. He's scheduled to visit Boulder on June 20 and Tallahassee on August 29. If Sanders can recruit him, it's a statement. Colorado's still a player, even without its headliners.
New Blood, New Blueprint
Colorado is kicking off 2025 with home games against Georgia Tech and Delaware-winnable matches that could set the tone. However, with Shedeur and Hunter gone, Sanders isn't taking any chances. He's assembled a coaching staff of NFL legends: Warren Sapp is hammering the defensive line into shape, Marshall Faulk is grinding with the running backs, and Byron Leftwich-yes, the guy who helped Tom Brady snag his last ring-is running the offense.
The -happy days are taking a backseat to a tougher, more balanced attack; this ain't the Shedeur show anymore. Sapp has the defensive line growling, Faulk is pounding the running game into shape, and Leftwich might just sprinkle some magic on the playbook. It's a gamble, no doubt, but Sanders doesn't play small. Fans are eager to see if this team can stay in the running.