Analyst on Deion Sanders' Colorado football recruiting strategy: 'To me, it can't work'
![Apr 27, 2024; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders during a spring game Apr 27, 2024; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders during a spring game](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3936,h_2214,x_0,y_227/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/268/01hx5p0qnpbfg4we190m.jpg)
Mike Farrell (of the Mike Farrell Sports brand) spoke with fellow Deion Sanders doubter Jason Whitlock on his BlazeTV show, Fearless, and claimed that Coach Prime's Colorado football recruiting strategy "can't" work.
"At Alabama and Georgia, two great examples of teams that have won multiple national championships, Clemson as well, the Brock Bowers of the world play as a freshman, and then they develop into sophomores and juniors and then they move off to the NFL, but they pass along that guidance and wisdom to the younger guys," Farrell prefaced before saying, "There's really not that ability to occur in Colorado if you're just bringing in new guys every year.
“I don’t think [Deion]’s in it for the long haul… getting 7 high school recruits, not doing any in-home high school visits, going completely reliant on the portal… that’s short term success.”
“I don’t think [Deion]’s in it for the long haul… getting 7 high school recruits, not doing any in-home high school visits, going completely reliant on the portal… that’s short term success.” - @mfarrellsports on Deion’s approach at Colorado pic.twitter.com/YI5EMqTRp8
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) May 5, 2024
Deion Sanders deliberately trying to build Colorado football roster differently
Farrell's opinion is based on a single unsuccessful CU season, one that still surpassed expectations, and at this point, a personal problem since Deion Sanders Jr. called him "b*tch-made" via social media.
Sure, many share the same opinion, and there's definitely healthy skepticism one should have for doing things differently than how success has been had in the sport for decades; bordering on centuries.
But remember, Sanders is trying to do things a certain way. He wants veterans via the transfer portal that aren't looking for historic NIL paydays and don't need in-home visits.
Coach Prime is trying out the 40-40-20 recruiting method: 40% of his recruits being grad transfers, 40% being undergrad transfers, 20% being from high school. If he was missing his recruiting goals, it'd be fair to criticize Sanders.
But it's been one season in which the Buffs hit the Vegas over/under win total. Give him another chance before saying it can't work.