Deion Sanders’ first message to Colorado players: I will replace you

Deion Sanders made a strong first impression after meeting with his new Colorado players.

Right away, Deion Sanders told the Colorado football team that things will be different now.

The greatest cornerback of all time is leaving HBCU powerhouse Jackson State to take over one of the worst programs in the Power Five. This is a tremendous opportunity Coach Prime has ahead of him. He knows what he is getting into, but he also recognizes the uncut gem that is the Colorado program. Sanders is a contemporary with many of the CU legends who played for Bill McCartney.

So while he was incredibly blunt during his introductory meeting with the current CU players, it is abundantly clear that the standard has been raised overnight and the perpetual nonsense plaguing the Buffs will no longer be tolerated. Though him intimating that he will be using the transfer portal hard this offseason to flip the roster as quickly as he can, this surprises no one.

Simply, if a current CU player enters the portal, there is no coming back to Coach Prime, as he will have already replaced you. He is bringing to the Rocky Mountains his own luggage, which just so happens to be Louis Vuitton. This snippet of his introduction to the players at CU may come across as harsh, but big time college football is big time business. Mountain time is the new Prime Time.

Here is the viral clip of Sanders being brutally honest with the Buffaloes players he is inheriting.

Deion Sanders makes quite the first impression with his new Colorado players

Do not kid yourself. The Coach Prime effect is very real. He has been on the job for less than three days and already landing a five-star wide receiver from the 2025 recruiting cycle in Winston Watkins Jr. Although it is not going to be easy to make CU close to what it was during the glory days under McCartney, this is a program with a proud football history that is dying for a winner.

Notable Colorado football alums include David Bakhtiari, Eric Bieniemy, Mason Crosby, Joel Klatt and Brendan Schaub. If the Buffs start winning games under Coach Prime, that might get Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s collective attention as well. Colorado may be forever chasing the 1990 national championship, but the Buffaloes should compete in the new Pac-12 under Sanders.

Even though the Buffs went 1-11 last season, going 6-6 is not out of the realm of possibility in year one. Colorado had positive momentum during the one year Mel Tucker led the team. It carried over in some capacity into Karl Dorrell’s first season, albeit a COVID year. Heck, the one standout year the Buffaloes had under Mike McIntyre is not ancient history, folks. You can win games here!

Realistically, although Sanders’ attempt to rebuild the culture in Boulder will be done on the fly with help from the transfer portal, he is going to get a boost from organic recruitment out of high school nationally. Colorado has some talent in-state, but nowhere near enough to sustain a major Power Five program. Fortunately, some of the limitations have been lifted by the university now.

No, this does not mean the floodgates will be open for every top-flight recruit to come to Boulder, but CU is expected to be a little more lenient about letting people transfer in. Admittedly, it is about damn time for Buffs football to matter again. Ralphie is awesome, Boulder is an incredible place and these loyal fans have deserved so much better for so long. Good job by you, Colorado!

Sanders is not kicking all these kids to the curb, but like the buffalo theory, only the strong survive.

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