Deion Sanders’ method to remodeling Colorado’s roster in his two years on the helm has been considered as controversial by some, notably slicing gamers from the group whereas bribing in a excessive quantity of transfers.
However considered one of Colorado’s prime gamers got here to Sanders’ protection following a report from The Athletic that detailed how the coach dealt with eradicating gamers from his roster. Security Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig referred to as out the previous Colorado gamers who shared detrimental experiences with Sanders within the report.
“boy they keep tryna paint this dangerous picture of my coach and this system when actuality if you happen to work yo butt off and make performs you’ll be celebrated and appreciated an if you happen to do not do these issues your not constructed for this group simply the reality EVERYBODY HAS A OPPORTUNITY,” Silmon-Craig wrote in a social media put up.
Sanders’ son and Colorado quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, additionally referred to as out one of many gamers talked about within the story.
“Ion even keep in mind him tbh. Bro needed to be very mid at greatest,” Sanders wrote in a social media put up.
Sanders and Silmon-Craig’s posts had been in response to a different put up that featured a quote from former Colorado security Xavier Smith on the interplay he had with Sanders when he was informed it was greatest for him to depart this system in April 2023.
“We sat on the couch, and he is speaking to us, however he is not even us,” Smith informed The Athletic. “I am wanting [at then Colorado defensive coordinator Charles Kelly] lifeless in his eyes. [Sanders] mentioned he felt like I ought to hit the portal. He did not need me to waste a 12 months pondering I might earn a spot.
“I used to be truly getting mad, like tears coming to my eyes. As a result of, bro, you by no means even tried to get to know me.”
The assembly occurred after Colorado’s first spring recreation with Sanders as its head coach. However Smith wasn’t the one participant who had a gathering, as former Colorado large receiver Chase Sowell informed The Athletic that he recalled seeing over a dozen gamers lined up exterior Sanders’ workplace to be informed they had been not wanted.
“We knew it was going to occur, however we did not understand it was going to occur that quickly,” Sowell informed The Athletic of his assembly with Sanders that day.
“He did not sugarcoat it,” Sowell added. “He was telling me, ‘You are coming off damage. I do not suppose you’ll be one of many guys we have to begin this 12 months. We’d like guys which might be going to be able to play now.'”
Within the months main as much as the spring recreation in 2023, Sanders had already made his presence felt at Colorado. He introduced in a number of transfers, together with many from his former college, corresponding to Travis Hunter, Silmon-Craig and his sons, Shedeur and Shilo.
Sowell informed The Athletic that he felt there was a division between the incoming transfers and the holdovers on Colorado’s roster. Behind the scenes, the Amazon docuseries that lined Sanders, alongside along with his son’s “Effectively Off Media” YouTube channel, created a tradition that “kinda felt like a actuality TV present,” based on Sowell.
Can Deion Sanders Rebuild Colorado (Once more)?
Smith additionally did not just like the lead-up to the day of his fateful assembly with Sanders.
“He was destroying guys’ confidence and perception in themselves,” Smith informed The Athletic. “The way in which he did it, it might’ve been completed with a bit extra compassion.”
Sowell and Smith had been two of the 53 gamers who transferred out of Colorado between the time Sanders was employed and his first recreation as head coach. Sowell wound up at East Carolina, main the group in receiving in 2023 as he had 47 receptions for 622 yards and a landing. Smith went to Austin Peay, an FCS program, earlier than transferring again to an FBS college, becoming a member of UTEP for the upcoming season.
Whereas 53 gamers departed this system, Sanders introduced in 87 new gamers, utilizing the switch portal to his benefit as he took over a one-win group. Colorado’s first season with Sanders on the helm introduced great buzz because the Buffaloes went 3-0 earlier than really fizzling out, ending the 12 months 4-8.
Sanders hit the switch portal once more this offseason, bringing in 34 transfers thus far, however not earlier than greater than 40 gamers left this system.
As he begins 12 months 2 in Boulder, Sanders is hoping to seek out higher success than he did on the finish of 2023. The Buffaloes return each Sheduer and Hunter, who’re every considered as prime prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft. Regardless that his sons will probably enter the NFL in 2025, Sanders mentioned over the weekend that he is dedicated to Colorado for the lengthy haul.
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