LAS VEGAS — Deion Sanders isn’t shying away from the expectations surrounding his second season as the Colorado football coach.
If Big 12 football media days were any indication, all eyes will be on the Buffaloes in 2024. Wherever Sanders and his quarterback son, Shedeur, walked inside Allegiant Stadium on Wednesday, a large contingent of media followed them.
“Look at where we are,” Sanders said Wednesday at the Big 12 media event. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m a brother from Fort Myers, Florida, and I’m sitting in the darned end zone in Las Vegas talking to the whole darned country about a childish game that I played. Don’t you understand how powerful and wonderful it is? I’m so darned thankful to be here.
“So I try to relay to the young men: This is the moment, and you better maximize it, and let’s go get it.”
It was Colorado’s first appearance as a Big 12 school after a 4-8 season in the Pac-12 last year. According to coach Sanders, there’s plenty of reason for optimism.
“I see the want and the fire and desire from our young men, and I can’t wait until you get the opportunity to see it as well,” Sanders said Wednesday at the Big 12 media event. “I’m very optimistic on what we have on our plate this year.”
More: Colorado was offered $2.5 million signing bonus from Big 12 to leave Pac-12
The Colorado offensive line that allowed Shedeur to be sacked an FBS-high 50-plus times last season has been completely revamped with talented and experienced transfers. On the other side of the ball, a defensive line that struggled to generate sacks (27, seventh in the Pac-12, 63rd nationally) a year ago will feature proven and productive pass rushers.
Both groups, which were weaknesses in 2023, give Sanders confidence about a much better on-field product this fall.
“When I see the offensive line and the way they train, way they work, the way they go about their job,” Sanders said of what gives him confidence going into 2024. “When I see the defensive line coaches and the way they’re on their kids and the way they’re demanding excellence, and the way these young men are working and the athletes that they are and the bodies that they have and they developed right now.”
Arizona State transfer B.J. Green is one of those defensive linemen who should give the Buffs’ front seven a different look. The 6-foot-1, 270-pound edge rusher was named to the preseason All-Big 12 team by the conference’s media after setting career highs in tackles (39), tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (six) last season for the Sun Devils.
Sanders believes Green has NFL potential.
“B.J. Green is already a leader,” Sanders said. “His work ethic, the way he approaches and attacks the game is phenomenal. I just got finished doing an interview and they said you have two young men projected to probably be in the top five picks, yeah, but we want four in the first round. The only way that’s going to happen is that we win and they’re dominant.
“I think B.J. Green could be one of those guys, and I think he will be one of those guys because he wants it that much.”
More: Arizona State transfer B.J. Green is a major addition to Colorado football: 3 reasons why
Year two of the Deion Sanders-era at Colorado begins next month on national television (ESPN).
The Buffs will host FCS powerhouse North Dakota State on Thursday, Aug. 29, and Sanders isn’t necessarily a fan of the high-risk, low-reward matchup.
“They’re really darned good,” Sanders said of North Dakota State. “I’m mad at (athletic director) Rick (George) right now for putting them on the schedule, to open up with them. Like can you give me a layup or something? Those guys are wonderful. Their staff has always been amongst the best. Many people have matriculated from that staff to go to higher levels. Those kids play their butts off. They play tough. They don’t make many mistakes.
“They’re accustomed to winning. They don’t give a darned about being at home or on the road. That doesn’t faze them whatsoever. It’s going to be a phenomenal game. Phenomenal matchup. But that program is second to none.”
Follow Colorado Buffaloes sports reporter Scott Procter on X.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Deion Sanders ‘very optimistic’ about Colorado football in 2024
The Coloradoan
