How Colorado newcomers view pre-Deion Sanders era recruits

Colorado football safety Trevor Woods, a Karl Dorrell-era recruit who survived the mass turnover the Buffaloes have faced since one Deion Sanders came to town, revealed to BuffZone’s Pat Rooney how the group of newcomers Coach Prime and his staff brought to Boulder treat those who predated “Prime Time” — and unsurprisingly, it was with respect for having survived a gruesome 2022 season.

“We almost had a whole new team (in the spring) and even more of those guys are gone,” Woods prefaced before saying, “It’s a little different vibe. We’re bringing a winning culture here. It’s always funny, because they all just know what we went through (last year). So they kind of just, like they respect us for sticking it out and then staying. For me, it’s kind of like, I know I can compete with guys. No matter who’s brought in, I’m still in contention for the starting spot, so it’s just that I know I can play.”

Woods is one of just 10 players who was not invited to “hit the portal” by Coach Prime. Interestingly enough, he’ll be competing with Shilo Sanders, the second oldest son of Deion, for snaps in the secondary.

Trevor Woods could start for Colorado football over Deion Sanders’ son Shilo

It’s possible that Woods wins a starting job over Sanders ahead of or during the 2023 season. 247Sports’ Adam Munsterteiger revealed that all but one player in the safety room has been a steady starter at the collegiate level, meaning there’s an open tournament that any man can win.

“All of the scholarship safeties on Colorado’s roster, sans true freshman Jaden Milliner-Jones, have started at the college level,” Munsterteiger prefaced before saying, “So, defensive coordinator and safeties coach Charles Kelly is faced with a good problem. It is especially good to have the problem at safety, where injuries can mount up, and at a position where targeting issues can factor in. Shilo Sanders, Trevor Woods, Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, Myles Slusher, Rodrick Ward, Travis Jay and Vito Tisdale all came to Boulder to start. Even Alabama transfer Jahquez Robinson could factor in at safety. May the best men win.”

This isn’t Little League. If Coach Prime’s kids aren’t the best at their positions, they won’t play. Thus far, though, both Shilo and Shedeur Sanders have earned their keep at Jackson State, and for the former, at South Carolina as well.