It’s very hard to please Deion Sanders, not just as a coach, but also as a father. Known for being an old-school disciplinarian, Coach Prime had once kicked his own son, Shilo, out for showing up at a team meeting early. And who can forget the favorite child rankings he’s dished out over the years? Recently sitting on that throne was Sanders’ oldest child, Deiondra, as the favorite child, but it looks like Deion Sanders Jr has claimed that spot! 

Being named the MVP by Coach Prime is one of the highest praises one can receive. But Deion Sanders Jr., aka Bucky, knows how to keep everything cool and grounded, which is one of his admirable traits. See his response when Coach Prime lauded him as the family’s MVP.

Taking to Instagram, the 57-year-old father of five wrote tagging his eldest son: “The Family’s Most Valuable Person. Bucky & WELL OFF MEDIA on YouTube are game changers.”

Sanders Jr promptly replied, showing humility at the appreciation, “Just playing my role. I appreciate you mane.” The MVP crown comes at a good time, as it wasn’t a long time ago when Bucky even one-upped the Emmy-award winner and Food Network host Guy Fieri to show what it’s like to be Coach Prime’s son. Last year, the restaurateur and author had shut down any ‘nepotism’ benefits his son would get and mentioned how he’d have to earn his fortunes instead, saying, “If you want any of this cheese, you’ve gotta get two degrees.”

Bucky hilariously reposted this as his IG story and captioned it: “COACH PRIME WOULD’VE SAID GET 2 DEGREES TO GET A HANDSHAKE.” 

Initially, a wide receiver at SMU, Deion redirected his career toward film-making, and founded Well Off Media in 2018. The talented videographer is behind all the Buffs’ video coverages, pushing Colorado’s social popularity. Deion Sanders Jr. may not admit it, but he’s one of the most valuable assets of the CU Buffs. 

On a similar note, Shedeur Sanders also mentioned how Prime Time’s fatherly duties never disrupt his coaching responsibilities.

“I mean, from my experience with him, I stay away from him on gameday,” Shedeur Sanders said according to On3. “I don’t ask him nothing, I don’t hang around, I don’t play with him — I just keep my distance from him. Like, the first day of anything, and then when it’s gameday, it’s exactly the same. He’s gonna snap,” the 22-year-old QB said.

As they say, everyone’s got unique talents. While Deion Sanders Jr. isn’t a serious football player like his younger brothers Shedeur and Shilo, he’s already doing what most college football programs haven’t begun yet — filming game coverages and behind-the-scenes of the CU Buffs, and the Sanders family. As of April 2024, the media venture was said to be making somewhere between $64.3k to $386k, with a reported monthly income of up to $15,000 .

This aligns with one of Coach Prime’s goals when he said, “We try to flood the market.” Thanks to him and Well Off Media, he built an audience for Colorado with his YouTube channel, which rose from 80,000 subscribers last November to 463,000 subscribers as of August 2024. He remained humble and worked silently through it all, knowing the big reward was yet to come. 

Deion Sanders Jr.’s cryptic one-liner

“The rejected will be respected.” Sounds familiar? Deion Sanders Jr. probably coined this phrase. Behind-the-scenes people rarely get the credit and recognition they deserve, just as many people don’t know about Coach Prime’s oldest son because he isn’t a constant in the spotlight like his brothers. Last October, Coach Prime shared a post by someone with the caption, “AYEE @DEIONSANDERSJR Daily Reminder: The Rejected will be Respected.” 

If we dig deeper, this cryptic phrase was first used by Bucky himself back in September. He posted the following on his IG account: “The rejected will be respected. All Glory to GOD.” It may be interpreted in numerous ways, but the most general interpretation could suggest how he’s usually shrouded in the shadows of his legendary father and football star brothers.

The 30-year-old revealed this exact feeling and hating his last name in a conversation on his YouTube channel. “I just hated telling people because it’s like you just want to get that sh*t on your own like I want you to respect me for me you know what I’m saying…you just always wanted it for yourself you wanted to get it on your own,” he said in July this year.

As a WR, Deion had played a total of 25 games from 2013 to 2015, and even received the Second Team All-American Athletic Conference selection as a kick returner, in his Sophomore year. The next year, the former player had 15 kickoffs for 372 yards—second-most returned kickoff yards on the team at the time. However, after his much-needed break from the sport, Deion also launched a luxury clothing brand , Well Off Forever. 

It’s also usually the silent and less-popular ones that first climb to the top of the ladder. And the growth that we see in Bucky and his channel is evidence that action speaks louder than words.