Deion Sanders took the job at Colorado on Dec. 3, giving him just two weeks to land a recruiting class. Doing the remarkable is something he made a habit of during his tenure as HBCU football savior, so we knew Sanders would snag some gems no matter how late to the recruiting party he was.
Where Does Deion Sanders’ First Colorado Recruiting Class Rank?
With the Early Signing Period commencing on Dec. 21, Sanders had to jump into action to land recruits to Boulder. The charismatic Sanders did just that in compiling the 23rd-ranked class in the nation. He secured a top 25 national recruiting class over two weekends as he still prepped the Jackson State Tigers for the Celebration Bowl.
The Buffaloes are a program that has gone a dismal 5-19 the past two seasons, including a rock bottom 1-11 in 2022. Sanders was able to land 35 players as 17 new signees and 18 transfers have agreed to come to Boulder and help rebuild a dormant but once-proud program.
As he did at Jackson State, Sanders added key pieces in both sides of the football. In typical Coach Prime fashion, Sanders pulled out all the bells and whistles during his limited number of recruiting weekends. The fancy car, photo shoot twist was something most probably didn’t see coming, but it’s Deion.
Mannn @CUBuffsFootball definitely had the best photo shoot I have been around! @DeionSanders is about to make CU different DIFFERENT!!
FREE ZIKO!!! #wecoming pic.twitter.com/FXNs40G8h9
— Brandon Collier (@BCollierPPI) December 24, 2022
Sanders said he was coming. It’s safe to say he’s arrived in a big way.
Deion Sanders Signs 17 New Recruits And 18 From Transfer Portal
The bell cows of Coach Prime’s 17 new signees are speedy running back Dylan Edwards, the No. 11-ranked back in the nation, and stud wideouts Omarion Miller and Adam Hopkins. All are four-star recruits who’ll likely see the field early and often in Boulder.
Defensively the cupboard isn’t bare either, as Sanders signed Taje McCoy, an underrated edge rusher whose skill set should afford him playing time pretty early. He’s joined on that side of the ball by cornerback Carter Stoutmire,who has the ball skills to play soon and is capable of playing inside or outside on the corner. It helped that Stoutmire’s dad, Omar, played with Deion and is good friends with Colorado defensive backs coach Kevin Mathis. In fact, Mathis is his godfather.
“Coach Mathis is actually my godfather, so that’s something special right there,” Carter Stoutmire told Buff Stampede. “I would say it’s helpful having Coach Prime and Coach Mathis there at Colorado because they’ll create a family atmosphere. Especially going somewhere new to live, it is going to be nice to have that security knowing that you are going to have people that are in your corner.”
Stoutmire was committed to Arizona for the past seven months, but the opportunity to play with Coach Prime and his godfather was too good to pass up.
Transfer Portal Was Good To Coach Prime
Upon his arrival to Colorado Sanders told current Buffalo players to jump in the portal because he was bringing luggage, and he even called it “Louis Vuitton,” in reference to the highly-touted players he was bringing with him from JSU.
That luggage includes the 2022 No. 1 overall recruit Travis Hunter who committed to and played his freshman season at Jackson State under Coach Prime.
He also brought along a pretty good quarterback in his son Shedeur Sanders, a former star in the SWAC, who Fox Sports has already dubbed the 2023 Heisman Trophy favorite.
Fox Sports has released their early 2023/24 Heisman Race and at #1, CU’s very own QB Shedeur Sanders! pic.twitter.com/gsNMWPfxrt
— Sidelines – Colorado 🦬 (@SSN_Colorado) December 11, 2022
Who Is Deion Sanders’ Highest-Rated Transfer?
Four-star tight end Seydou Traore is the highest rated transfer outside of Hunter and Sanders, and he’ll have an immediate impact as a safety valve with home run ability for Sanders in the Buffaloes revamped passing game.
Speedster Jimmy Horn Jr. is another quality pickup in the portal with game-breaking speed, something new offensive coordinator Sean Lewis’ offense prides itself on.
Coach Prime landed a great first class, and he still may not be done with Feb. 1 signing day still around the corner, and with the nation’s No. 1 ranked cornerback Cormani McClain still available, Sanders could add him opposite the dynamic Hunter.
