The Colorado Buffaloes continue to face scrutiny over their high player turnover under Deion Sanders. Stories about athletes leaving the program have become a constant narrative since Sanders arrived in Boulder.
College football has transformed into a business where everyone gets paid. With NIL deals now in the mix, coaches face enormous pressure to keep their rosters intact each season.
Sanders built his reputation at Jackson State before moving to Colorado. The Buffaloes have significantly more resources and a larger NIL budget than JSU ever had.
But the numbers tell an interesting story. At Jackson State, Sanders didn’t recruit any 5-star offensive or defensive linemen. His teams still rushed for over 1,000 yards in both seasons. The defense led the SWAC in sacks in 2021 and ranked among the top defenses in 2022.
The only 5-star offensive lineman Sanders recruited at Colorado was Jordan Seaton, who transferred to LSU. When asked why he left, Seaton was direct: “To see a more intense training environment, higher-level coaching, and better preparation for the NFL.”
This contradicted Sanders’ claims about Colorado being the “33rd NFL team” with the most pro-level coaches in college football.
The turnover numbers are staggering. A total of 167 players have entered the transfer portal since Sanders announced he was bringing his “Louis Luggage” in 2023. That’s an average of 42 players per year – nearly half the roster.
Two former Colorado players were selected in the top 40 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft. Jordyn Tyson went No. 8 overall to the New Orleans Saints. Colton Hood was taken 37th by the New York Giants.
Sanders tweeted about Tyson before the draft, calling him “Different.” He had nothing to say about Hood, who actually played a season in Boulder under Sanders.
Seaton is projected as a first-round pick next year.
Former Colorado defensive line coach Warren Sapp criticized Seaton for speaking out against the program. “(Sanders) let you know exactly what we expect of you,” Sapp said on a podcast with Uncle Luke. “The grades, the classes, the study hall hours, and the film work every week.”
Sanders addressed the situation during a spring practice press conference. “Some of our past players have been commenting on us, which is cool with me,” Sanders said. “We’re not going to be provoked or coming back or say anything ignorantly back. I wish those guys the best.”
The message from Sanders and his staff seems mixed. Former players continue sharing similar experiences about their time in the program.
Former Colorado quarterback Ryan Staub recently told reporters about his transfer to Tennessee: “In my three years of playing college football, I haven’t had as much coaching as I’ve had in the first month that I’ve been here (at Tennessee).”
Colorado finished 3-9 last season. The program needs significant improvement this year.
The Buffaloes have brought in over 100 years of combined NFL playing and coaching experience since Sanders arrived. They haven’t made a conference championship appearance.
Sanders faces questions about whether his approach can produce winning results. Anything less than a bowl appearance this season will intensify the scrutiny around his tenure in Boulder.
