Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes have changed conferences, coordinators and their offensive line (again). They have also changed their uniforms.
What hasn’t changed is the fanfare that accompanies the team. Regardless of their record, the Buffaloes remain the center of attention in the college universe as they return to the Big 12 this season.
Sanders’ second year begins next Thursday when the Buffaloes host FCS star North Dakota State. This season promises to be more entertaining than ever for Sanders & Co., and plenty of celebrities and professional scouts are sure to show up at Folsom Field. After all, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and all-round talent Travis Hunter are not only Heisman candidates, but also possible top picks in the NFL.
They block out all the noise from the critics.
“I’m ready to go out there and show everybody what it’s all about,” said safety Shilo Sanders, whose team started 3-0 last season and finished 4-8. “You’re going to take criticism, that’s what happens the more you improve. … Keep working and show what you can do on the field. That’s what really counts.”
Deion Sanders recently gave the media the cold shoulder because of negative coverage and his use of certain words like “chemistry.”
“You use it all the time – what is it?” Sanders said of chemistry. “Everyone is constantly throwing that word around.”
Sanders stressed that everything in Boulder is still going according to plan. In fact, “everything is right on schedule,” he claimed.
A year ago, the team was projected to have a 3 1/2 winning streak. This season, the total has been raised to 5 1/2 wins on the cusp of bowl contention, according to BetMGM College Football Odds. The Buffaloes were projected to finish 11th in the Big 12 media poll as they return to a league they called home until 2011, when the school moved up to the Pac-12.
The roster has been revamped, adding 38 new players since the spring, including several from the transfer portal. Colorado has completely rebuilt its offensive line to protect Shedeur Sanders after he was sacked 52 times.
In addition, the coaching staff has been changed. The defense is now led by Robert Livingston, who previously coached the secondary with the Cincinnati Bengals. The offense is overseen by Pat Shurmur. The longtime NFL coach joined the Buffaloes last season as a quality control analyst but was promoted to co-offensive coordinator when the team ran into trouble.
There is already a good relationship between Shurmur and Shedeur Sanders.
“He understands my style of play a little better,” the quarterback said. “He can hear me.”
Protection for Shedeur Sanders
Shedeur Sanders is coming off a season in which he threw for a school-record 3,230 yards despite missing the season finale with a broken back. Given the difficulty in keeping him upright – or establishing a running game – the Buffaloes’ top priority was to find reinforcements for the offensive line.
The new starters include five-star recruit Jordan Seaton, who will help protect Sanders’ blind side.
New coaches with NFL experience
Deion Sanders has added several former NFL players to the coaching staff. Phil Loadholt is in charge of the offensive line, Damione Lewis is in charge of the defensive line, and Warren Sapp has been brought on board as the lead quality control analyst for the defense.
“It’s difficult to guide someone and show them the way when they’ve never been there themselves,” Sanders said.
Look good, play well
Deion Sanders helped revamp Colorado’s uniforms this season, and he and his team will also be wearing custom headsets.
“The motto is: If you look good, you feel good. As a result, you play well,” Sanders said. “That’s our goal.”
The running game
Colorado averaged 68.9 yards per game, ranking 130th in the nation. To boost the running game, the team signed Ohio State transfer Dallan Hayden. He ran for 663 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games over two seasons with the Buckeyes.
The schedule
Season tickets for this year are completely sold out for the school, with only a few single-game spots left (North Dakota State has fewer than 3,000 tickets available). The schedule includes back-to-back trips to Nebraska (Sept. 7) and Colorado State (Sept. 14) before heading back home to host Baylor on Sept. 21. That game will be Colorado’s first game in the Big 12 Conference since 2010.
