BOULDER — As Deion Sanders likes to say, he had time on Thursday. Time to talk through the latest exodus of Colorado football players into the transfer portal.
Heading into Friday, the Buffaloes have seen over a dozen players leave the program as the spring window opened this week. Sanders' team currently has about 15 scholarships to use and they intend to fill them with quality players — many of whom have already lined up visits to campus for this weekend and for the Apr. 27 spring game at Folsom Field.
Sanders is confident in what his team will look like come Week 1 against North Dakota State on Aug. 31, which is why he isn't sweating the latest losses to the portal.
“I wish you guys (would) do a little bit more homework when you talk about the portal and understand what we're losing,” Sanders said. “What are we losing?”
When the crowd of reporters in attendance responded that a few potential starters have left, including former 5-star recruit Cormani McClain and running back Alton McCaskill, Sanders said, “You haven’t been watching practice.”
While that’s true — the media isn’t allowed to watch any portion of CU practices — Sanders is confident the players that are coming in are simply better than the ones who have exited.
“I trust the recruiting team, I trust our coaches and please, have some faith in me,” Sanders said. “We’re alright. A lot of people are fighting for backups. I don’t know how many starters have really transferred around the country. We can attract those types of players. But I don’t think we’re losing those types of players. Quit making a big deal out of nothing.”
As for what the Buffs will be looking for in the transfer portal over the next few weeks as they try to solidify a roster they hope can compete for a Big 12 championship, Sanders’ answer was simple.
“Always depth,” he said. “I think every coach wants depth. You want depth at the offensive line (and) we’re gonna bring in several more of those guys, defensive interior guys as well. A couple linebackers gonna come in. I know where we are. You’ll find out where we are real soon.”
As for who’s doing the recruiting of the talent in the transfer portal, well, that’s been a hot topic of discussion as well.
Earlier this week, Coach Prime's son, senior safety Shilo Sanders, posted an Instagram story saying that any potential defensive transfers interested in playing at CU should reach out to him directly, while offensive transfers should reach out to his brother, quarterback Shedeur Sanders. That led to a storm of online discussion about whether or not player-to-player recruiting goes on at the biggest and most successful programs in the country.
“I think most prominent players at every program are probably your best recruiters,” Coach Prime said. “We have a recruiting department that’s superb and they’re elite, but I wish you could have a conversation with Shedeur and just tell him to show you his (social media messages) one time. You would not believe the kids that call him or call Shilo because they’re high-profile young men. That’s how it works. They know who the dawgs are and who the cats are.”
Shilo had no idea why it drew as much attention as it did.
“The more games we win, the easier it is to get looks and get drafted,” he said. “I want the best opportunity to win. I’m gonna do all I can to beef up the team. I just want to make it easier for guys to come find a new home at Colorado.
“We’re not hard to find either,” Shilo said in a clear nod to one of his dad’s famous lines.
As for why players in the portal should choose Colorado, well, that message was simple, too.
“The number one thing is, if you’re good, you’re gonna play,” Shilo said.
“If you’re not playing here, that just means you’re doing something (wrong),” Shedeur added.
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