Deion Sanders effect shown as Colorado Buffaloes host No. 1 prospect

13 September 2023 , 19:36

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Deion Sanders is trying to lure more No. 1 recruits to Colorado (Image: Getty)

The Deion Sanders effect is in full motion at the Colorado Buffaloes, with the college football program leaning heavily on recruitment and hosting some of the top prospects in the U.S. for future years.

A Sanders-led squad — coach and quarterback — has shocked the football world this month, winning their opening two games against TCU and Nebraska to break into AP's top 25. Sanders' son, Shedeur, is the team's QB and has immersed himself into Heisman Trophy contention after throwing for 903 yards and six touchdowns across both games.

Shedeur also registered a touchdown of his own in the 36-14 win over the Cornhuskers. However, a Colorado teammate of Shedeur's is also in Heisman contention, with two-way star Travis Hunter impressing on both sides of the ball.

Coach Prime played a big part in luring the 2022 No. 1 recruit Hunter to the Buffaloes and he's looking to do it again with the top players for 2025 and 2026.

Cass Tech wide receiver CJ Sadler, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound athlete who already holds offers from a number of schools including Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee, was present for the win over Nebraska. He was photographed alongside Colorado four-star defensive line pledge Brandon Davis-Swain.

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The 2026 No. 1 recruit, like Hunter, offers great versatility. Colorado is also reportedly set to host Belleville's Bryce Underwood, who is a quarterback and is rated as the best in the 2025 class.

Underwood, who's considerably taller than Sadler standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 210 pounds, is a two-time state champion and All-American with 6,493 total yards and 84 total touchdowns over the past two years.

Cass Tech's 2026 No. 1 recruit quarterback CJ Sadler (left) was at Colorado's game against Nebraska (Twitter)

The feel-good factor has Colorado's recruiting department inundated with phone calls, coach Sanders revealed. "We’re receiving so many calls at this point right now that it’s absurd,” he said. “Just inquiring about what we do and how we do what we do, visitation and desiring to come on an unofficial or official visit.”

Sanders' dedication to the Colorado program was evident as the Hall of Famer slept in his office ahead of the home game against Nebraska. "I wanted to wake up and see the stadium,” Sanders on FOX Sports Big Noon Kickoff. "I wanted to wake up and feel it. I wanted to see it empty [and] then see the transformation. That’s pretty much what we’re doing.”

The Buffaloes are back in action on Saturday night against rival Colorado State. Unlike the Buffaloes, the Rams are yet to taste victory this season.

Joshua Mbu