3 Colorado stars fuel analyst’s best-case Deion Sanders scenario
“If anyone has a chance” to go from 1-11 to Pac-12 champ, it’s Deion Sanders with the Colorado football program says CBS Sports’ Cameron Salerno. The reason Salerno feels this way? Incoming 5-star transfer Travis Hunter, Sanders’ 4-star transfer QB son Shedeur, and 5-star 2023 Miami flip Cormani McClain.
“How is it possible that a team that went 1-11 last season could turn around and win the conference the following season? Well, if anyone has a chance to do just that it’s Deion Sanders and Colorado,” Salerno prefaced before saying, “The Buffaloes had the most dramatic roster overhaul of any program in the history of college football this offseason, bringing in 50 new players from the transfer portal and solidifying the No. 1 transfer portal class in the 247Sports rankings.
“Travis Hunter is going to be a must-watch player this fall no matter Colorado’s record. There’s a good chance the former No. 1 recruit in the country from the 2022 recruiting cycle plays on both sides of the ball this fall. Hunter and five-star true freshman CB Cormani McClain should form a dynamic duo in the secondary and being mentored by one of the greatest defensive backs in NFL history certainly helps. Shedeur Sanders can be considered the second-most important player Colorado brought in from its transfer portal class. He put up big numbers at FCS-Jackson State, and if he duplicates that production the Buffaloes will be in a fantastic spot.”
Colorado football would dominate the news cycle at 12-0 or 0-12: Analyst
Salerno believes the “Prime Time” spotlight wouldn’t hover over anywhere else but Boulder, Colorado whether or not the Buffaloes were 12-0 or 0-12.
“The schedule to open up the season is brutal, with a game at national runner-up TCU followed by the first home game of the Sanders era against Nebraska,” Salerno prefaced before saying, “Colorado could go 0-12 or 12-0 and they will still dominate the news cycle and headlines because of Sanders. They are arguably the most intriguing program to follow this season. The drastic use of the transfer portal could turn out to be a massive success or failure.”
Truthfully, the polar opposite ends of the spectrum are the most entertaining outcomes for the 2023 season. A mere 4-8, 5-7, or 6-6 season would provide enough ammo for the haters while also placating over bettors for CU’s win total, but it wouldn’t provide the fireworks that an underdog season or second transfer portal exodus would.
And that’s what the national media wants from Colorado football now with Coach Prime in tow.