Well, if you are a Colorado Buffaloes fan, you know how the program never runs out of support. And when it’s the next generation of Buffs, the support gets 100x more. After all, Boulder anchored some of the best NIL deals in college football. Thanks to their quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, who ranked first in the NIL valuation charts.

Their two-way star, Travis Hunter, too, has been quite a name when it comes to NIL. Now that the dynamic duo will be off to the NFL, the Buffs fam might have given up all hope. But looks like there is nothing to worry about. Someone has taken up their place. That’s none other than Deion Sanders’ wide receiver, Quanell Farrakhan. However, this does not hide how Deion and Co. are struggling with NIL. 

Quanell Farrakhan’s first NIL break wooed Deion Sanders Jr. 

It has been only a few months since the WR committed to Boulder in July. Ever since then, he must have been following Shedeur’s success in the NIL field. The Buffs QB is one of the highest-ranked NIL players in college football, having a valuation of $6.5 million. Finally, the big day came for the WR, and he took his first baby step in NIL.

On January 18, Farrakhan came up with an IG post. The young chap looked dapper in a Colorado T-shirt paired with denim. However, it was not any random post. Rather with this, Farrakhan shared about his first break in NIL. The caption read, “Onto new beginnings. Featuring @hollister denim.” Hollister Jeans is an American lifestyle brand owned by Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Hollister Co. Yes, definitely, Farrakhan’s NIL offer came off as a surprise.

But the comment section had another big surprise…

Scouting through the comments, one can’t miss the message from Deion’s son, Deion Sanders Jr., aka Bucky. He simply wrote, “Bro looks like a good kid.” After all, they know how it has been difficult for the Buffs. Even though Deion’s squad and 5430 Alliance have only been partners for less than 10 months, the school has decided to drop the NIL collective. They had a hefty amount of $8 million for the football budget in 2024.

This came off as a blow when college football programs like the Ohio State Buckeyes compiled $20 million in NIL money to build their roster. Word on the street is that Deion’s former staffer, Trevor Reilly, tried to keep the lights on by reaching out to Saudi Arabia for a $10 million investment. The Buffs basically brushed him off, saying he was acting independently and outside of his official duties. But looks like this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their NIL problems. 

How Deion Sanders leverages the NIL era

Coach Prime has found himself on the NFL radar. Dallas Cowboys GM Jerry Jones is said to have contacted the Buffs HC, but even they know it won’t be easy to pry him away from Colorado. For that, Jones will have to cater to that one condition upon which Deion’s NFL debut hangs. In the HC’s words, “The only I would consider is to coach my sons…SONS.”

So, if the Cowboys whip up a plan to land both the siblings, Shedeur and Shilo, no force could stop Deion from taking up the role in Dallas.  As per the pending House lawsuit settlement with the NCAA, schools are permitted to pay players directly for the first time. This puts pressure on athletic departments to come up with the money for it. Now if Deion bids farewell to the Buffaloes, the Prime effect is likely to lead to a mass exodus of the players. In that case, Colorado would lose its charm as the NIL tycoon.

However, Deion Sanders is not quite interested in what the future holds for him. As of now, he is on a mission to pull out the Buffs from the dark times. For that, he is seeking all the NIL money. But as reported by Jane Slater of NFL Network, the Colorado athletic director Rick George responded with “resistance” when Sanders approached him asking for more money. Amidst all these issues, like Deion Sanders Jr., we must celebrate small successes like Quanell Farrakhan’s.