Deion Sanders has addressed comments made by former Colorado players after they transferred from Colorado. Sanders used his news conference to respond to comparisons between his programme and the new teams the players joined.
Sanders Wishes Departing Players Well
Sanders said that some past players had been commenting on the programme, which he said was ‘cool with me’. He added, ‘We’re not gonna be provoked or coming back or say anything ignorantly back. I wish those guys the best.’
Among the players who have moved on are Jordan Seaton, who transferred to LSU, and Ryan Staub, who now plays for Tennessee. Seaton said his decision to join LSU was because ‘it just means more’. Staub said he had received more coaching in his first month at Tennessee than in his three years of college football.
Sanders noted that some of the players had made their names at Colorado before leaving. He said he was proud the players were able to ‘earn more than they earned here’ with payments for their names, images and likenesses (NIL).
‘We still in good relationships with quite a few, but you got to understand, some young men play the victim, and that’s not the case,’ Sanders said. ‘We try to treat everybody here with utmost respect and professionalism.’
Players Cite Coaching and Facilities as Reasons for Transfer
London Merritt, a former Colorado defensive lineman who left for Clemson, offered a similar explanation for his departure. ‘It was just a lot better than where I was,’ Merritt said. ‘Facility-wise, coaching-wise, feel like it was just a better option for me.’
Sanders lost more than 35 players who decided to transfer after last season, when the Buffaloes finished 3-9. However, he also gained 59 newcomers this spring, including transfers from other schools.
Sanders said these newcomers ‘may have seen that the grass is greener from some other school that they left’.
Improvements Seen Across the Board
Colorado will conclude their spring practice season with an intrasquad scrimmage. It will be the first spring game not televised on cable television since Sanders took over in December 2022.
‘I think we’ve gotten better everywhere, starting with me, and understanding what to go get, what we have, how to mature it, how to develop it, as well as the staff that we have,’ Sanders said.
Looking back at last season, Sanders mentioned failures at certain positions. One setback came at quarterback after Sanders’ son Shedeur left for the NFL. Redshirt freshman Julian Lewis is expected this year.