Video: Deion Sanders Talks NIL, CFB Transfer Portal, Bronny James’ Future, More
Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVApril 25, 2024
Sam Hodde/UFL/Getty Images
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders was at a loss to ponder what his college life would’ve been like if he had played during the NIL era.
In an appearance on All The Smoke, Sanders joked that “I would really need Jesus to come down himself” to offer some guidance.
The Hall of Fame cornerback was certainly ahead of his time in terms of marketing himself and understanding how much money he stood to gain off the field. He was a massive star before he ever stepped onto an NFL field.
Sanders was, however, careful to caution that today’s college athletes shouldn’t miss the forest for the trees.
The head coach recounted to hosts Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson a visit he recently had with the family of a prospective recruit. He said the player’s mother asked about NIL, to which he told her, “That’s not my department. I’m about NFL. You can talk the NIL about somebody else.”
Sanders went on to say the NIL has brought unintended consequences, such as athletes receiving more scrutiny because they’re no longer viewed as amateurs and something more approaching a pro player.
The Hall of Famer also explained his conflicting emotions on the transfer portal.
As a former star athlete, he believes there’s a level of adversity that can be beneficial toward a player’s career, and that can be lost when a player can so easily change schools. Sometimes, paying your dues and working your way up the team can yield a large return down the road.
As a coach, on the other hand, he enjoys the ability to find immediate reinforcements for his team.
Barnes and Jackson also asked Sanders his thoughts on USC guard Bronny James. He said he sympathizes with James because he carries a lot of expectations on his shoulders and has the almost impossible task of escaping the shadow of his father, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.
Still, Sanders remains bullish on Bronny’s potential on the hardwood.
