Colorado’s transfer portal strategy could backfire as Deion Sanders faces mounting pressure in his third season with the Buffaloes.
The Denver Gazette’s Mark Kiszla raised concerns about Sanders’ long-term commitment once his sons leave the program. The coach built his roster through transfers but now risks losing key players the same way.
High-profile recruits like five-star offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and quarterback Julian Lewis could transfer out if the team struggles.
“In this Louis Vuitton era, when five-star recruits like offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and Lewis can pack up and leave Boulder as quickly as they became big men on campus, there’s no future in the Buffs being a 4-8 football team.”
The Buffaloes lack identity midway through September. Starting quarterback Kaidon Salter lost his job to Ryan Staub after Colorado’s 31-7 loss to Delaware in Week 2.
That marked the team’s most recent game against a Group of Five opponent.
Salter regains his starting role for Saturday’s game against Wyoming. That’s Colorado’s second and final Group of Five matchup this season.
The defense represents the biggest concern this year. The unit took a step back despite major raises for defensive coordinator Robert Livingston and pass rush coordinator Warren Sapp during the offseason.
Colorado’s run game shows improvement under new leadership. Marshall Faulk’s hiring as running backs coach and Simeon Price’s addition from Coastal Carolina have strengthened that area.
“And maybe that’s the best explanation for why Sanders has absolutely no time for patience.”
Sanders’ future in Boulder may depend on immediate success. The coach’s patience appears tied to his sons’ presence on the roster.
A program collapse over the next several months would validate critics who predicted this outcome. Many expected it to happen one year earlier than now.
