Back in July, the Colorado Buffaloes were having their first week of preseason practice. And Warren Sapp, the new staff member of Colorado, was suddenly reminded of his NFL days. Sapp only asked his Colorado players to go forward and reach their maximum potential to win the Big 12 title. Because Colorado Buffs Edge BJ Green II took things too seriously, he had no idea he would end up getting the flavor of his own prescription.

During the practice, Green II was honing his pass-rushing techniques with Sapp acting as the defensive lineman’s target, armed with a blocking pad. The GA got a stark reminder of  6″1′, 270-pounder’s strength when he was knocked down and appeared to be taken aback. Despite being shaken up and rubbing his left shoulder, Sapp didn’t appear to have suffered any significant injury. The 51-year-old re-entered the drill and managed to stay on his feet during a subsequent matchup with Green.

A video from the training camp was posted by The Pregame Show on July 31. And the video wasn’t your typical one. Sapp, the coach, was so excited that on August 2, he also shared the video on his Instagram account. The post wrote, “I have no Clue what “LOC” is but My Lawd please let it mean Light On Coach!! #SappGotSmashed #SappNotFishing #BlowedUp check Coach Dancy shaking his right shoulder. He got US Both!!” Green came to Boulder this season as a transfer from Arizona State.

Green featured for ASU for three years and established his name as a premium defender in the team. Just look at his 2023 numbers. 39 tackles, six sacks. And you wonder why the Buffs had a better season on defense in 2024? Green was one of the reasons. 33 tackles, 7.5 sacks. Interestingly, Green already had a prior connection with Coach Prime. “(BJ) Green has a special tie to Coach Prime from his youth,” BuffsBeat’s Josh Tolle prefaced before saying, “He was his first head coach in Atlanta and turned him away from being a running back to play defense.” Now as the Green has declared for the NFL Draft, the edge rusher gave Colorado its flowers in an emotional post.

In a lengthy letter, Green reflected on his time at Arizona State and Colorado. On his Instagram account, he posted that heartfelt farewell with the remark, “A M O R F A T I,” which translates to “love of fate. And the Instagram message said, “Thank you for welcoming me with open arms. Playing on the most beautiful campus at the base of the Rocky Mountains, I found peace, growth and a deeper love for the game.”

“Thank you coach prime, my first youth football coach and my final collegiate coach, for seeing my potential and helping me tap into levels of performance I didn’t even know I had. Thank you Coach Sapp, coach Livingston, Coach Lewis and the entire CU staff, for sharpening my skills and pushing me to my absolute best,” he added, expressing his thanks for everything.

Green said he “can’t put into words” the influence Coach Prime and the coaching team had on him, underscoring the importance of his journey. He discussed his development on and off the field and emphasized how teammates’ and supporters’ encouragement made his stay there special. But for Coach Prime, losing Green can be a huge blow.

On the offensive side of things, he’d be without Sheduer and Hunter. He’ll most likely lose Shilo and now Green has also declared. It’ll be an entirely new team. However, the Buffs’ faithful need not worry. Coach Prime is known to nurture talent. Remember how he made a prediction about Green back in July?

“BJ Green is already a leader,” Sanders said. “They raised him right at Arizona State and for him to come over now, it’s phenomenal. His work ethic, the way he approaches and attacks the game is phenomenal — his want, his will, his desire… We want four (draft picks) in the first round. The only way that’s going to happen is we win and they are dominant. I think BJ Green could be one of those guys, and I think he will be because he wants it that much.”  In fact, Sapp also had nothing but praise for Green.

“I didn’t know who he was,” Sapp said during a video posted by Well Off Media in June. “I had never seen any tape on him and I was just wanting to see him go. Oh my God. The young man will go inside, outside, he loves close contact. He loves the phone booth, which I love, because you all know who else working the phone booth don’t you? Superman!” On the other hand, Green also thinks that the season with Colorado has helped him develop further.

“Uncomfortable” outing at Deion Sanders’ Colorado helped Green to flourish

Green II took a chance on Colorado when he opted to spend his final season of college football with the Buffaloes. Already an established star with Arizona State, Green could have wrapped up his career with one more solid season with the Sun Devils. Instead, he chose to transfer to CU, and he hasn’t looked back.

“It’s turned out the way I expected it to,” said Green, who has been one of the top edge rushers in the Big 12 this season. “Coming here was, it’s uncomfortable, but that’s what I needed, and that’s what I needed to get to the next level.” Green is one of several players who chose to spend their last season of college football with the Buffs, and many of them have made a significant impact.

Green earned first-team All-Big 12 honors this season. He was an All-Pac-12 player at ASU, but posted his career highs in TFLs and sacks this season. “I needed to put myself in somewhere that’s uncomfortable in order to see what I really am and what I really can do,” he said. “It really showed me what I could do and dive into the potential of what I can do. So that’s why I’m really excited to play this last game, because I can put everything together.” 

Green had a chance to learn from Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp, former NFL veteran Damione Lewis, and another experienced defensive coach Vincent Dancy, and he could not be more thankful for that. “I can’t really put that into words what they’ve done for me,” Green said. “Just having that experience and just that care for, like, they really genuinely want to see you succeed. Being able to talk to with coach Sapp every single day and being able to pick his brain. Being able to talk to D-Lew, talk to Dancy.I’m blessed to have three defensive line coaches I can get different opinions from.” Green will surely look to take those learning to the NFL with him.