Colorado’s Deion Sanders is one of college football’s coaching lightning rods entering his second season. Colorado’s projected win total sits at 5.5 and there are plenty of doubters once again despite the Buffaloes returning two of the nation’s top players in Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. Colorado athletic director Rick George defended his most polarizing employee recently and doesn’t understand the vitriol that often surrounds his coaching style.
“I think there’s a misperception about coach (Sanders),” George said in an interview with BuffStampede. “If you know Coach Prime, he’s an incredible individual. He’s driven, he knows what it takes to be successful, he’s hired a great staff.”
National media pundits directed negative barbs at Sanders and his program this offseason, largely due to last season’s failures and Colorado’s unconventional transfer portal philosophy.
“We’re not going to make everyone happy and that’s not our goal,” George said. “Our goal is to focus on what we have in front of us, tune out all the noise that’s out there and make this program really great. I think Coach Prime’s going to do that. I think this is going to be a big step in that direction this year. Let the naysayers say what they want to say. We’re not listening to it; we’re just focused on what’s ahead.”
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The biggest need at Colorado was retooling its offensive line and only two players from last season are back. New offensive line coach Phil Loadholt can take solace in the fact there’s nowhere to go but up for this unit in front and the addition of five-star 2024 signee Jordan Seaton is major. He is a Day 1 starter at one of the tackle spots and bring supreme talent to the outside in protection of Sanders.
In the backfield, four players who were expected to return — including potential stars Dylan Edwards and Alton McCaskill — are now gone entering the season. The replacements in Colorado’s impressive transfer class includes Dallan Hayden and Isaiah Augustave. Hayden is a former Ohio State backup while Augustave has spent his career at Arkansas.
Sanders says Colorado’s heavy roster changes are no big deal and that many of the players who left the program were not going to be relied upon as go-to threats.
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Shedeur Sanders believes Colorado is “everybody’s Super Bowl” and the Buffaloes are taking that mentality into the season, prepping for every opposing team’s best shot.