Deion Sanders Still Making Noise As He Enters Critical Season For Colorado, With Transfer Portal Work Needed

It certainly hasn't been the same type of noise we are hearing this spring in Colorado, compared to the previous year. But that doesn't mean Deion Sanders has changed his tune on how he's approaching year two in Boulder. 

Let's be honest, last year we witnessed one of the wildest starts to a coaching tenure in college football history. No, I'm not talking about the results on the field, I'm talking about the noise that Deion Sanders created during his first six months on the job. 

From the day that he was hired at Colorado, the school, along with Sanders social media team, turned Boulder into a viral superstar, with all eyes on what was going on with the Buffaloes. And, as we've seen over the past few months, the noise hasn't gone away, but it's certainly not as loud. 

There's a reason for this strategy, if that's what the actual gameplan was for those inside the athletic building. Everyone knows where Deion Sanders is at, and they also know that this is a critical season for Colorado football, especially in their first season of Big 12 competition. 

Now, with the transfer portal opening up, Coach Prime is working to find the right pieces for one final push before he sets the roster for 2024. Sure, we aren't going to see the roster overhaul that we witnessed last year at this time, but that doesn't mean Colorado is satisfied with its current crop of talent. And we all know how Deion Sanders feels about the transfer portal. 

But, some of that all changed on Tuesday when DB Cormani McClain entered his name into the transfer portal, becoming the second player that carries weight with his name that has decided to leave. McClain found himself at the center of conversation multiple times last season, as Sanders said a lack of preparation was one of the reasons why he didn't see the field during the first month of the 2023 season. 

"Study and prepare," Deion Sanders told reporters when asked what McClain can improve on to see the field. "Be on time for meetings, show up to meetings. Understand the scheme. I check film time from each player so I can see who's preparing, so if I don't see that, you would be a fool to put somebody out there who's not prepared. That goes for all our players."

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 24: Deion Sanders, Travis Hunter, and Sheduer Sanders pose for a photo during the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets on October 24, 2023 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)

The pressure is on for Colorado to win more games, and end its season with a chance to become bowl eligible. But the thought that just because we aren't hearing the same type of noise out of Colorado doesn't mean that the college football world isn't paying attention to what they will be able to do with Sheduer Sanders and Travis Hunter. 

"Do what you need to do, because the standard is the standard," Sanders said. "We were one of the most undisciplined teams in college football last season and I'll be dern if we're gonna anchor that again. One thing that we're gonna be is that we're gonna work hard, fight hard, and we're gonna be disciplined. I promise you that."

While speaking with the football team recently, former NFL head coach Steve Mariucci made it clear to those players sitting in the meeting room that while people might not know exactly what's going on at Colorado, they're paying attention. 

"The whole world's watching you guys. I'm just telling you right now, people don't know what's going on here," Steve Mariucci told the players. "It's happening so fast and some people are on your side and saying this is really exciting. And some people are just kind of rooting against you because it's not supposed to happen this fast."

The Whole World Will Be Watching Colorado Next Weekend 

Say what you want about the attention Colorado received from networks last season, it paid off in advertising dollars. The Colorado football program under Deion Sanders has done everything possible to spread the word about what's going on in Boulder, as you all witnessed last season. 

From College Gameday to Big Noon Kickoff, it felt as though Colorado setup a residency with the two shows throughout the season, and I promise you the executives at both ESPN and FOX were loving it. So, you can expect the same type of attention for Sheduer Sanders and Travis Hunter, with both players having an opportunity to fight for the Heisman Trophy, if Colorado can win enough games. 

BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 4:  Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes (L) has a word with Shedeur Sanders #2 before his first offensive drive in the first half of a game against the Oregon State Beavers at Folsom Field on November 4, 2023 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

The college football world will certainly be paying attention next weekend as the Buffaloes take to the field for their spring game inside Folsom Field. The Black and Gold Weekend is being promoted as Colorado setting a "new standard for spring games across the nation", with a festival-like atmosphere planned. 

"The multi-day festivities include the Arrow Electronics Black and Gold Spring Football game, a post-game concert with Lil Wayne headlining, CU football alumni reunion, and even a talent show," Colorado said in a release. 

This is certainly a way for Colorado to continue grabbing the attention of fans in the area, while at the same time making sure the ‘talk’ around college football will be centered on what Deion Sanders is doing. 

Deion Sanders Will Handle The Transfer Portal His Way

Is Colorado out here throwing money at every single player they can get to enroll? No, and they don't have to at the moment, thanks to the shine on Coach Prime. Sure, there are players that Colorado needed to make sure they got into pads, so NIL was part of the allure, but the portal is a whole different animal. 

On Tuesday, Colorado was already feeling the effects of losing a few players, including starting offensive lineman Savion Washington, who started ten games for the Buffs. After losing every starting offensive lineman from last season, and that might actually be a positive thing for Deion, the team added five transfers during the December portal period, with more to come over the next two weeks. 

"Portal opens soon. Let’s get busy," quarterback Shedeur Sanders wrote on X/Twitter. 

I can promise you that they are going to get busy, but it all centers around who can contribute, with positions all across the field needing depth and playmakers. But as we all witnessed last spring, Deion Sanders was just trying to do everything he could to find enough quality depth on this squad to keep up with his opponents in the now defunct Pac-12. 

Heading into the 2024 season, expectations are high, and that's exactly how Deion Sanders wants it. But now the program must take the next step, while preparing to play in a new conference. Keeping the fans attention is the main priority for the Colorado football program, and the only way that ends is if Coach Prime isn't around. 

It's time for the Buffaloes to start promoting, and they've got one of the best there is to do it. Then, it's time to show it on the field, which is an ongoing project.