Deion Sanders to the NFL is becoming an increasingly real possibility after Colorado football's Alamo Bowl letdown against BYU in late December.
Saturday Blitz's Andrew Boardwine believes Coach Prime's culture-building is a good fit for the pros if he were to consider leaving Boulder.
"Deion Sanders has been the story of the season. While Colorado didn’t sustain its early success and finished outside of bowl eligibility in 2023, Sanders’ impact on the program has been undeniable, and he came back in 2024 with a vengeance," Boardwine wrote.
"He took a 1-11 program and immediately injected life into it, drawing elite recruits and media attention. Now, after 2024, he had Colorado one win away from a Big 12 Championship berth and, potentially, a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Buffaloes finished the year with a 9-4 record.
"His ability to manage high-profile talent, coupled with his NFL pedigree as a Hall of Famer, suggests that he could handle the pressures of the professional ranks. The NFL is all about player management and building a culture—two things Sanders excels at."
Sanders has resisted wanting to build anything in the NFL, claiming that he can't handle players' egos. NIL in the modern era of college football is pretty similar, though, and CU reportedly let Sanders down with their NIL spending, or lack thereof.
If Colorado isn't showing the money, Coach Prime will find someone who will. More than half of the NFL is willing to spend big on a winner. I'd guess most franchises would be willing to spend more if they had Sanders in tow. Sanders himself would likely come with a gaudy price tag.
Sanders to the NFL is getting very real at this point. It's been real in Boulder if money is really the issue they're saying it is.