Deion Sanders' approach resonates with plenty of players and fans, but there's no doubt it's not for everyone. Former Colorado safety Xavier Smith is calling it out.
Much was made about the way Sanders handled Colorado's roster when he accepted the job in Boulder after a dismal 1-11 season. Sanders made it clear much of the team wouldn't be back in 2023, telling players that not everyone would have a place on the team and explaining that he wanted to energize players who were "salvageable."
Smith was one of the players who didn't make it to Week 1 at Colorado, but he didn't walk away from the program on positive terms.
Here's a look at why Smith is calling out Sanders and how the Sanders family is responding.
MORE: Deion Sanders says Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter won't play for certain NFL teams
Deion Sanders-Xavier Smith beef, explained
Smith was "cut" by Colorado when Sanders was shuffling around his first Buffaloes roster, but he recently told The Athletic that Sanders approached the situation poorly.
"He was destroying guys’ confidence and belief in themselves," Smith said. "The way he did it, it could’ve been done with a little more compassion."
Smith explained that Sanders didn't even meet with him one-on-one to tell him he should enter the transfer portal. Defensive coordinator Charles Kelly instead held the meeting, but Smith said Kelly didn't even look him in the eyes during their conversation.
Sanders "never even tried" to get to know Smith, the safety said, before encouraging him to transfer out of the program.
Smith stuck around throughout the spring, but he "felt more like an extra on the background of a reality show," according to The Athletic. The defensive back eventually transferred out and landed at Austin Peay.
What did Shedeur Sanders say?
Smith's quote was one of a handful shared with The Athletic, but Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, Deion's son, quickly dismissed the criticism.
"Ion even remember him tbh," Sanders tweeted. "Bro had to be very mid at best."
While Sanders admittedly wasn't teammates with Smith for very long, that kind of mentality seems to be exactly what Smith took issue with. Smith believed Deion Sanders was dismissive and didn't take time to get to know him before pushing him out of the program. Coach Prime's son, the on-field leader of the program, revealing that he also didn't take the time to get to know Smith might support the defensive back's claims.
Shedeur Sanders' comments aren't exactly typical of a quarterback projected to be a top NFL Draft pick, but his father defended him the next day on social media when a commenter criticized him.
"He will be a top 5 pick," Deion wrote. "Where yo son going?"
This further showcases that nothing about Sanders, his father, or the Colorado program has been typical since the Coach Prime era began. That seems to be the intention in this new era of Buffaloes football.
MORE: 2024 NFL Draft picks by college
Who is Xavier Smith?
Smith was a three-star prospect and 69th-ranked safety in the class of 2022 when he committed to Colorado. He was limited to one game as a true freshman, missing most of the season with a hamstring injury.
Despite entering 2023 healthy, Smith was encouraged to transfer and ultimately committed to Austin Peay, where he had 75 tackles and five tackles for loss over a full season.
Former Austin Peay coach Scottie Walden became the head coach at UTEP after the season, and Smith followed him to El Paso.
"It's rare you meet a head coach who genuinely wants to see every player on his roster succeed," Smith told The Athletic, contrasting the 34-year-old Walden with Sanders.
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