The University of Colorado Buffaloes football program made a big splash over the weekend by hiring Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders as their new head.
Now, the school is changing its transfer portal policies, per Michael Abeyta of CBS Colorado. However, it won’t be all that simple for ‘Prime Time’ and the Buffaloes to recruit all the players they desire.
Abeyta detailed a stumbling block that could be problematic for athletes hoping to transfer to Colorado:
“The University of Colorado Boulder is picky about what credits the institution will accept when a student wants to transfer in. That presents some problems for incoming transfer student-athletes, especially with the new NCAA transfer portal.
In 2018, the NCCA created the transfer portal for student-athletes, who want to switch schools immediately. Before the portal was created, athletes that wanted to transfer had to sit out for one year. Now they can play right away, but a certain percentage of their transfer credits must go toward a degree at their new school.
Other schools have a physical education or general education program that students can transfer into, but CU doesn’t have those.”
Per Abeyta, however, University of Colorado Chancellor Phil Distefano recently suggested that changes could be made on that front.
“We’re working to give coach and all of his student-athletes the skills they need to succeed,” Distefano said.
Sanders took over as the head coach for the Jackson State Tigers in 2020, leading them to a 4-3 record in his first season there. He has garnered an impressive 27-5 record over his three years with the Tigers, who soundly defeated Southern in the SWAC Championship Game.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer recently stated that his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, will be the team’s starting quarterback in 2023. Shedeur has been the Tigers’ starting quarterback since 2021.
Deion and Shedeur will try to end their successful run at Jackson State together on a positive note when they meet North Carolina Central in the Celebration Bowl on Dec. 17. That game will be played at the Atlanta Falcons’ home venue of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Sanders is often considered to be the greatest cornerback in NFL history. He played for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington and Baltimore Ravens. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler and First-Team All-Pro, winning Super Bowl 29 and Super Bowl 30 rings with the 49ers and Cowboys, respectively.
He played his final season for the Ravens in 2005 before retiring. After his playing career, Sanders worked as an analyst for CBS and NFL Network before commencing his college coaching career.
