You want to be Prime? Have some almonds because Coach Prime is going ‘nuts’ with Colorado! Thanks to his partnership with billion-dollar company California Almonds, the Buffs players are able to enjoy the sweets of his effort. As Colorado’s mission to improve their 4-1 record continues, Deion Sanders is seen in an engaging almond campaign along with two of his players. 

On October 1, Coach Prime uploaded a reel on his Instagram wearing a chain that has the shape of a gigantic almond and stating that almonds help him recover from intense workouts. He captioned the post, “We always look out for those that put in work for the team!” The video featured two of his star players, Charlie Offerdahl and Ben Finneseth, who appeared alongside their HC as they did some pull-ups. Coach Prime tagged them in the caption and called them “My OB’s.” And the trio topped off their exercise with a palm full of almonds. 

Deion Sanders is a hardcore believer that almonds work wonders in post-exercise recovery. So, to keep almonds as a part of his daily diet, he partnered with California Almonds in 2023 saying, “It’s all about consistency! I’m partnering with California Almonds to share how almonds help me stay PRIME, all the time.” Fast forward to October 2024, Coach Prime’s influence has spread to Colorado players. 

Colorado is not just winning on the field but they’re also winning in NIL deals through Coach Prime’s mastermind. Offerdahl and Finneseth are just two among several players who have inked NIL deals with giant companies. Thanks to Deion Sanders’ partnership with brands like California Almonds, KFC, and Nike, among others, he has given his players a platform to earn from their brand image. 

Coach Prime is the mastermind behind Colorado’s NIL success

Back in March, Deion Sanders told the Buffs players of their NIL situation, “I’m gonna turn this thing around for y’all. I’m gonna bring all the interest, all the intrigue, all the support.” His promise led to the formation of the 5430 Alliance which is an NIL merger of the 5430 Foundation with the Buffs4Life organization, which boosted Colorado’s NIL scenario tremendously. Now players like Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and Jordan Seaton among others have lucrative NIL deals. And that’s not the thing that Coach Prime did to boost his players’ financial status. 

In August, ahead of their regular season kickoff, Deion Sanders executed a noble act for Colorado players who have children. 5430 Alliance partnered with Elevation Credit Union to open up bank accounts for the kids of eight Buffs fathers, saying, “A child is not a mistake. A child is an opportunity to mature you, grow you, advance you, and give you some skills.” Each account received $2,121 as a tribute to his No. 21 from his playing career. Coach Prime isn’t just the tough and chill persona you see on the sidelines on gameday. His profound insights and efforts to develop and uplift his players are commendable! 

With college football NIL in discussion, let’s take the topic a notch further with this exclusive interview with Doug Sanders.