NFL legend Deion Sanders has done a great job of transforming the Colorado Buffaloes’ football program. In two years since arriving, he has turned the program from one of the worst in the nation to a popular destination for recruits.
Part of what makes Sanders a great spokesperson for the team is his experience as a star in the NFL, prompting college football players to want to play under the 57-year-old.
Deion Sanders’ 11-Word Recruiting Message
Sanders brought two of the biggest collegiate players in his first transfer portal in 2023 when his son, Shedeur Sanders, and two-way star Travis Hunter followed him to Colorado from Jackson State.
With both stars set to enter the NFL, Coach Prime needs an infusion of talent on his roster and is looking towards the transfer portal.
“Anybody in the portal, you know I ain’t hard to find,” he said in an interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe.
WE AIN’T HARD 2 FIND❗️
📺: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/dVUZXN6ftz
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) April 20, 2025
Despite their relative inactivity in the transfer portal this offseason, Colorado has brought in 17 players, including former Liberty QB Kaidon Salter.
Sanders is now looking to upgrade talent at every position. Speaking via SI.com’s Charlie Viehl this week, Deion Sanders remarked: “I want to target every area. You don’t just sit back and think you got it, you know? I mean, I think the kicking game is set…long snappers as well as kickers and punters, we straight. Everything else is, we need to improve.”
When asked why the players would choose Colorado, Coach Prime responded: “Our program sells itself. I don’t think I have to explain ‘Why Colorado?’ I think they see that on an everyday basis. I don’t think I have to sit up there and sell us to anybody. I think by the time they get here, they’re looking for confirmation. Our program sells itself. . . . We do a great job of really exposing our program. We did a great job on pro day.”
Sanders has indeed made Colorado a top destination in the transfer portal, and it’ll be interesting to see how he manages without Sanders and Hunter in 2025. He struggled in his first FBS season with the Buffaloes in 2023, going 4-8 after a 3-0 start.
While a three-game improvement from the year before, Coach Prime expected better from his team and had significant roster turnover heading into 2024.
Last season was the improvement Sanders and Colorado were looking for, as the Buffaloes went 9-4 in the regular season and finished No. 25 in the final AP poll. This resurgence was led by Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders.
The two are expected to be top-five picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Colorado rewarded Coach Prime with a five-year, $54 million extension.