When Deion Sanders had his introductory news conference after taking the coaching job at Colorado on Dec. 4, he pointed to his son, Shedeur Sanders, had him stand up and told the crowd, "That's your quarterback."
Only thing was, that was before the transfer portal window opened, and their former team, Jackson State, had the Cricket Celebration Bowl to play.
Now, it's official. Shedeur, a true sophomore who threw 70 touchdown passes at Jackson State, entered the portal Saturday, along with his brother, Shilo, a redshirt sophomore defensive back. On Wednesday, Shedeur announced he would join his father in Boulder, Colorado, as did Travis Hunter, the No. 2-ranked recruit overall in the 2022 class
Shedeur was the No. 61-ranked prospect overall (No. 16-ranked QB) in the 2021 recruiting class, which also included Heisman winner Caleb Williams and Drake Maye. Shedeur will be doing something rare in college football: jumping from the FCS level to the Power 5.
Beyond being the son of a Pro Football Hall of Famer, Shedeur has talent in his own right. He threw for 3,231 yards with 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions as a freshman and followed that by throwing for 3,732 yards with 40 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2022, also running for six scores.
No Colorado quarterback has topped 3,000 yards in a season since Sefo Liufau in 2014. In fact, Colorado has finished with at least six wins in a season just once since 2008. The Buffaloes have gone 5-19 over the past two years and 24-42 over the past six seasons.
What can we expect from Sheduer when he faces Pac-12 opponents? What will Deion build as a supporting cast around him? Does Shedeur have potential at the NFL level as well? Our experts break down what is happening in and around Colorado's football program.
What's the early buzz on Deion and Colorado?
Sanders hasn't had a quiet arrival. Colorado has gone from one of the least relevant, furthest off-the-radar Power 5 programs to one dominating headlines, largely because of its recognizable frontman.
"It's like 'Keeping up with the Kardashians,'" a Power 5 coach said. "You don't know what's going to happen next."
Sanders has built a notable staff, including offensive coordinator Sean Lewis, who left a head-coaching job at Kent State to join CU. Lewis' high-octane offense is seen as a selling point for Sanders, both for high school recruits and transfers. Colorado already made a splash with running back Dylan Edwards, ESPN's No. 156 recruit in the 2023 class, who originally committed to both Kansas State and Notre Dame. Edwards' speed should be a natural fit in Lewis' offense.
One question about Sanders and his staff is how they will approach West Coast recruiting, a significant part of Colorado's best teams under former coach Bill McCartney. Although Sanders has added some notable recruits since being named coach, none is from California.
"They're going to have to be aggressive, but the people he's hired, none of them are West Coast," a Pac-12 assistant said. "They're entrenched in the South."
Coaches expect an influx of talent to Colorado under Sanders, although the program has lost so much in recent years that there's a steep hill to climb in the Pac-12. Previous Colorado staff members noted the challenge of adding transfers, which school administrators say they will address to help Sanders and his staff.
"That's where they're going to mess up," a Pac-12 assistant said. "They think [Colorado] is going to be a national place. After a while, the money is going to run out."
Few Power 5 programs have been hit harder by the portal era than Colorado, which last year lost standout defensive backs Christian Gonzalez and Mekhi Blackmon, who both earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors for other schools in the league (Oregon and USC, respectively). Sanders will give Colorado a better chance to keep its best players and add talent, although some wonder what will happen after the initial influx from Jackson State and elsewhere.
"Some players are going to treat it as a free trip to meet Prime, but they're still going to play for Nick [Saban], they're still going to play for Kirby [Smart]," a Pac-12 assistant said.
Sanders undoubtedly will take advantage of the initial excitement about his arrival. But his program-building strategies ultimately will be tested in the coming year. -- Adam Rittenberg
How hard has Deion hit the transfer portal, and what does his 2023 recruiting class look like?
Colorado has had 10 players enter their names in the portal since November. That won't be a concern to Sanders, who wants to turn the roster over quickly anyway. Once he gets a chance to get on campus and evaluate the roster at Colorado, he will have a better idea of where he needs to fill holes.
He filled the need under center with Shedeur and made an even bigger splash when star freshman Travis Hunter announced he will also follow Sanders to Colorado. Hunter, recruited as a cornerback, had two interceptions and broke up 10 passes. He also saw some time as a wide receiver, catching 18 passes for 188 yards and four touchdowns
In the running back Edwards, Sanders added the Buffs' first ESPN 300 commitment since the program signed three in the 2020 class (running back Shaadie Clayton-Johnson, defensive end Jason Harris and quarterback Brendon Lewis). Colorado also added ESPN 300 wide receiver Adam Hopkins in a high school recruiting class that features 16 prospects as of Wednesday afternoon.
Sanders is also getting off to a fast start in future classes by hosting a visit, including 2024 ESPN Junior 300 recruits T.A. Cunningham and Aydin Breland, both defensive linemen ranked in the top 50.
"It was just his energy," Cunningham told ESPN's Blake Baumgartner. "You can really tell he has a passion for the game and I just remember, not even just the stuff he said, but just the way he says it, the confidence he has in his voice and the assertiveness. He just sounds like he's coming here with intent, a reason."
Now that the season is over for Jackson State, Sanders will be able to put his full effort and focus on recruiting and the portal at Colorado. He has already made some smart hires to help with recruiting, and he has hit the ground running. -- Tom VanHaaren
How good is Shedeur? Is he a legit NFL prospect?
Sanders, 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, is one of the more interesting quarterback prospects for the 2024 draft class. He has been as good as it gets against FCS competition, completing 68.1% of his throws and leading Jackson State to a 21-2 record. And he can also use his legs, evidenced by eight rushing touchdowns over two seasons.
Sanders is a linear-built thrower with above average arm strength and a smooth over-the-top throwing delivery. That enables him to get plenty of pace behind his passes when necessary, and he can also layer it over the top of coverage. He has quick and efficient feet that always stay alive in the pocket, and he uses his lively lower half to quickly get through his progressions. He consistently works in sync, with his feet tied to his eyes prior to releasing the ball.
Awareness is the trait that will sit atop the positive column on his scouting report. That's the way he sees, deciphers and attacks coverages. Sanders has grown more comfortable in picking up defensive structures before the snap, changing protections to keep himself clean and getting the offense into better plays.
Sanders brings a charismatic and confident persona that has been contagious on Jackson State's offense. Sanders will have a chance to prove he can replicate his success in Power 5 play. He has never played against an FBS opponent, so NFL scouts will be watching how the junior adjusts to the speed of the game. Quarterbacks don't often transfer from FCS schools to the FBS -- Washington State's Cameron Ward did jump from Incarnate Word last year -- so Sanders will be in somewhat uncharted territory. -- Jordan Reid
What are the expectations for Sanders in Year 1 at Colorado? What would be considered a good season?
There's a lot to rebuild in Boulder, and Sanders is off to an explosive start. He'll win recruiting cycles and tout transfer portal additions (as he should), but when it comes to what Colorado will be able to do on the field, patience will be key. The Buffaloes haven't won more than five games since 2016 and they have played in only one bowl game since, and that was in the COVID-shortened season. Expectations have to be managed, yet given the fact that the program won one game last season and hasn't won four games since 2019, the bar Sanders has to clear is relatively low.
Take a glance at Colorado's schedule for next season, and things start to look tougher -- at least in the short term. The Buffaloes start the year by going to TCU, which is in the College Football Playoff this season, then host Nebraska in coach Matt Rhule's debut season. From there, Colorado has games against the Pac-12's four best teams: Utah, USC, Oregon and UCLA. It's a gantlet.
The conference likely will lose USC and UCLA to the Big Ten in 2024, which opens up a window for the Colorados of the world to make headway in the conference. But when it comes to the immediate future, should the Buffaloes get anywhere near a bowl game in Year 1 under Sanders, it will be considered a success. -- Paolo Uggetti
Generally speaking, what do you expect Deion's program to look like in 3 to 5 years?
If things go as planned under Sanders, Colorado will regain the brand and the swagger the program carried in the early-to-mid 1990s. Sanders will be at the center, but Colorado accepted that when it hired him.
There's little doubt CU will be a potential destination for top recruits and transfers, especially from key talent hotbeds such as Texas, California and perhaps Florida. The Pac-12 is a league in which Colorado can move up, especially after USC and UCLA leave.
But the program's ascent could be gradual. The Pac-12 is an improving league with a strong group of newish coaches and proven veterans such as Utah's Kyle Whittingham. By Year 3, however, Colorado should be closer to contending in the league. Sanders isn't there to merely get bowl eligible. This program needs to be in the mix for bigger goals. -- Rittenberg