Deion Sanders Downplays Colorado’s CFB Transfer Portal Losses: ‘We Good’

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVApril 18, 2024

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Deion Sanders doesn’t seem too concerned about the players Colorado is losing in the transfer portal.

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg relayed an exchange the Colorado head coach had with a reporter Thursday, and Sanders notably said: “we good. I trust the recruiting team.”

Adam Rittenberg @ESPNRittenbergDeion Sanders, asked about players Colorado is losing to portal.

“What are we losing?”

Reporter: “Potential starters.”

“Where?”

Reporter: “Tight end, running back.”

“You haven’t been watching practice, huh? We good. I trust the recruiting team, I our coaches.”

He added: “Please have some faith in me. We good. We’re alright. What happens with the portal and you guys need to know, a lot of people are fighting for backups. When a guy’s a starter and he transfers, you’ve got to really think about that.”

Colorado is no stranger to the transfer portal under Sanders.

Brent Schrotenboer of USA Today noted in November that the Buffaloes led the nation with 51 transfer additions during the 2023 campaign, which was a shocking number given the 85 scholarship limit in place.

They also lost several players to the portal as Sanders took over, but the drastic strategy did not work despite the coach’s request that people “have some faith.” Colorado squandered a promising 3-0 start by finishing in last place in the Pac-12 with a 1-8 conference record that included losses to Oregon and Washington State by a combined 78 points.

Now Colorado is heading to the Big 12 and will face plenty of pressure to at least show some progress in Sanders’ second season.

Yet it will be without some key players because of the transfer portal as it attempts to demonstrate that improvement.

Will Backus of CBS Sports noted highly regarded cornerback Cormani McClain, starting offensive lineman Savion Washington, safety Myles Slusher, and defensive linemen Chazz Wallace and Devee Harris are among the key departures.

Washington’s departure means Colorado has to replace all of its starting offensive linemen from the 2023 campaign. And McClain was a 5-star prospect and the No. 1 cornerback in the class of 2023, per 247Sports’ composite rankings.

Kyle Bonagura of ESPN noted 14 Colorado players entered the portal this week.

“I think we got some [starting-caliber players] coming in from visits pretty soon, maybe even this weekend, but we can attract those type of players,” Sanders said. “I don’t think we’re losing those type of players, and if we do, we’re good. We’re good. We’re making a big deal out of nothing.”

Time will tell if the departures are a big deal, but Colorado is under the microscope this season.