Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders defended his football program following various negative comments from former players who left this spring for the transfer portal. Sanders specifically targeted ex-Colorado safety Xavier Smith, who said he did not appreciate the way second-year coach Deion Sanders handled roster management.
“Ion even remember him tbh. Bro had to be very mid at best,” Shedeur Sanders wrote, reposting a pull-quote graphic from The Athletic detailing Smith’s comments on Colorado.
Another recent Colorado transfer, former five-star signee Cormani McClain, said he wanted to play for a “real program” and not want “playing for clicks” in 2024.
Smith said in an interview with The Athletic that Sanders was “destroying” the confidence of certain players this spring and said his former coach lacked compassion.
Deion Sanders Jr., who runs Well Off Media, wrote Monday night that Colorado’s players will “control their own narrative” through behind-the-scenes footage and unrivaled access to the program, insinuating the family isn’t fazed by disgruntled players after leaving.
More than a dozen players left the Buffaloes in the spring transfer portal window, including several projected starters, including running back Dylan Edwards.
RELATED (VIP) — Colorado transfer portal exodus: Deion Sanders’ departures a matter of quantity over quality
Deion Sanders said the exits are all part of the plan for mass roster revision. He has secured commitments from several transfer portal players to fill holes and said earlier this month there’s no panic buttons being pressed ahead of his second season despite widespread roster turnover.
“I don’t know how many starters have really transferred around the country,” Sanders said before Colorado’s spring game to conclude camp. “I think we got some coming in for visits pretty soon, maybe even this weekend. But we can attract those type of players, but I don’t think we’re losing those type of players. And if we do, we’re good. We’re good.”
Buff Stampede.com publisher Adam Munsterteiger told 247Sports upon further inspection, most of the Buffaloes’ portal casualties were not first-team players.
Tuesday’s remark from Shedeur Sanders would suggest the same. There have been notable departures this spring from projected first-teamers, however. Omarion Cooper’s portal entry on Monday is certainly a blow after he registered 37 total tackles, including 32 solo stops, which both ranked as the highest on the team among cornerbacks.
Get the latest football and basketball transfer portal news from 247Sports.
Secondary stars Shilo Sanders and Travis Hunter are the only returning starters at the back end for the Buffaloes.
