Colorado football quarterback Shedeur Sanders was listed as a Tier 4 signal-caller by Mike Farrell of Mike Farrell Sports — one spot ahead of Georgia Tech-to-Nebraska transfer Jeff Sims, two spots ahead of Michigan State-to-Auburn transfer Payton Thorne, and one spot behind Mountain West veteran Chevan Cordeiro, who spent his first four years in Hawaii and is entering his second season with San Jose State.
Sanders, a transfer who, unlike Sims and Thorne, has never played a Power Five schedule, has one of the toughest schedules in the nation ahead of him.
If he can get enough protection from an overhauled offensive line with transfers from his and his father Deion Sanders’ last school, Jackson State, new offensive line coach Bill O’Boyle’s last school, Kent State, the JUCO ranks, other assorted Group of Five schools, and those who survived the Coach Prime transfer portal challenge from last year’s Buffaloes, Shedeur can be a surprise producer in the CU’s final season in the Pac-12.
The Big 12 looking to add one more program following Colorado football addition
With the Buffaloes now Big 12-bound, Brett Yormark reportedly wants to bring on one more school to give his conference an even (and misleading) 14 teams according to CBS Sports’ Dean Straka.
“It is believed the Big 12 has been considering further expansion, not only making overtures to other Pac-12 programs but also basketball powerhouses like UConn and Gonzaga” Straka prefaced before saying, “League commissioner Brett Yormark confirmed at Big 12 Media Days earlier this month that he would prefer to remain at 14 teams, which would require the addition of two schools after the Longhorns and Sooners depart — the Buffaloes and another program.”
Sanders reportedly has an interest in expanding CU’s recruiting footprint into places like Texas and Florida per Straka.
“Multiple sources tell CBS Sports that Sanders supports a move to the Big 12 because the fertile recruiting grounds of Florida and Texas — both in the Big 12 footprint — would open even further for the Buffs,” Straka wrote.
Sanders having the foresight to want the recruiting benefits the Big 12 offers is a sign that Farrell’s take that Coach Prime will be gone from Boulder in two years could grow colder than a December night in Denver.