Just when Deion Sanders thought that he was making major moves with his recruitment this season, with 14 commits and ranking high at 2nd position in the Big 12, reality hit him hard. The team was already going through a transition this season after the Buffs gave up the most QB sacks in the Big 12 conference, 43 last season. And now, in the middle of all of this mess, their star offensive lineman, Cash Cleveland, enters the portal. Quite a blow, right? But it looks like Cash isn’t among the ones to end things on a bad note…

Well, just two days after the spring portal opening, the Buffs lost their star starting center, Cash Cleveland, who decided to make a move. Losing him is a major blow for the entire team. As he wasn’t just any lineman, he was a 6’3, 290 lb. powerhouse for Colorado. And his stats speak volumes about his excellence. By the end of the year, he was the glue of the O-line, starting 4 games and playing 296 snaps, and only allowing one sack and two hurries last season.

Making it evident, Transfer Portal hit Instagram with the news: “Colorado starting center Cash Cleveland plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, Pete Nakos reports. Cleveland was an On3 True Freshman All-American last season👀.” But Cash rounded things up by commenting on the post, saying, “God’s plan. Thank you, Colorado, for everything.” 

Cash Cleveland spent one season at Colorado, where he started as a walk-on before becoming the first walk-on in the Buffs program history to earn a starting role. Dude came to Boulder without a scholarship and left as one of the most reliable players on the team. What a perfect transition! And that’s not the only thing that makes him Deion Sanders’ offensive threat; even On3’s True Freshman All-American Team included him, a selection quickly followed by PFF and 247Sports.

Now in the portal, Cash Cleveland brings a blend of nasty film and big-boy accolades, which made him a standout player in his game at Utah last season. Even Cash was pretty satisfied with his play time and gameplay against them. As he said, “It was awesome; I always stay prepared. I study a lot of film. In meetings, I’m always 100% focused and locked in, and I study like I’m a first-string player, so when my number got called, I was ready for the moment. Didn’t blink at all.” Deion Sanders was never afraid to drop freshmen players on the field, and that’s the reason Cash shined brightly.

But does Deion Sanders have any key pieces to replace a talent like Cash Cleveland? With Cleveland sidelined, Louisiana Tech transfer Zarian McGill is likely to take over at center. He played in all 12 games for the Bulldogs, starting three at center, so he’s well-versed in the position. Colorado also added Xavier Hill from Memphis last week—a significant acquisition. Hill saw an impressive 916 snaps last season, earning top marks from Pro Football Focus. McGill’s experience, combined with Hill’s versatility, gives Coach Prime a solid foundation, but whether they can replicate Cleveland’s performance remains to be seen.

For now, the team’s pretty surprised and heartbroken with Cash Cleveland’s sudden transfer portal move, especially when Coach Prime is trying his best to revamp the CU Buffs’ O-Line.

Cash Cleveland’s sudden leaves Buffs in shock

It’s pretty shocking to see that Cash Cleveland decided to enter the transfer portal even after everything Deion Sanders is doing for the Buffs offensive line. He hired Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl offensive lineman Andre Gurode as an assistant OL coach for a salary of $250.000. That’s not it. Coach Prime also promoted Gunnar White to co-offensive line coach at a salary of $275,000.

Look, Deion Sanders didn’t leave a single stone unturned to make his team strong. He brought NFL players to the team in coaching roles to develop his team with pro-level antics. But even then, things turn pretty weird for him. No one’s ready to accept Cash Cleveland’s departure. Even Julian Lewis was pretty heartbroken with Cleveland’s transfer portal move, as he put up the news in his IG story with a caption that said, “Hurt family.” No wonder losing Cash Cleveland is a major blow for the Buffs.

JuJu isn’t the only one sweating over his move. Even the Buffs’ offensive tackle Jordan Seaton isn’t buying the idea of him leaving the team. He hit X with a bold remark, saying, “Sports crazy Now, Can’t even build a true brotherhood anymore. Too much I and me.” It’s pretty evident that the transfer portal has shaken up teams and players’ sportsmanship to the very core.

However, in this new era of come-and-go, coaches will have to survive. The competition is high. For now, let’s just hope Deion Sanders finds a perfect replacement for Cash Cleveland.