Encouraging his players is something Deion Sanders is truly passionate about. Whether it’s imparting his wisdom or acknowledging their gameplay, Coach Prime never backs down. However, his faith in fresh transfer and star defensive back player D.J. McKinney as a future high first-round pick in next year’s NFL draft, following QB Shedeur Sanders and dual-threat to Travis Hunter, has become apparent.

Today, noskozone, a CU Colorado Buffs Instagram page, posted an interview bite where head coach Deion Sanders talked about cornerback D.J. McKinney’s future in the NFL draft in the coming years. When asked during the interview about Travis Hunter overshadowing D.J. McKinney, Deion Sanders gave the most appropriate reply to the reporter, saying “he is overshadowed to you all, not to us, as we mention him every min every single day”. Deion Sanders added to it, saying that he believes he should be considered as a future high first-round NFL draft pick after Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. Coach Prime also talked about his practice sessions where is shows maximum consistency. His gameplay speaks for him. This season D.J. has showcased exceptional gameplay by catching 8 balls running for 57 yards with no touchdowns allowed.

However, this is not the first time Coach Prime has shown his trust in D.J. McKinney. During fall camp practice, while talking about his top NFL draft contenders, D.J. McKinney stood out as one of the top defensive prospects for the team. The page also posted a very touching mentoring moment captured between Deion Sanders and McKinney. In the photo, Deion Sanders was giving his wisdom to D.J., and he was listening to him while nailing down. This surely reflected the strong bond they share. Coach Prime was one of the main reasons behind the McKinney transfer to the Buffs from Oklahoma State. And now that D.J. McKinney is performing exceptionally well this season, there is no doubt he made the right choice.

D.J. McKinney’s remarkable performance under Coach Prime

“I’m really, like, a big experience and knowledge guy, so having him as a coach is a great experience,” said D.J. McKinney while talking about his fall camp learning experience under Deion Sanders. There’s nothing better than learning from Deion Sanders, the defense expert and former cornerback player. This season the young man is showcasing amazing gameplay this season. Not only has D.J. McKinney made 14 tackles, but he has also contributed with a pass breakup and a tackle for loss, solidifying his position as the leader in tackles for the Buffs.

Last season, D.J. McKinney demonstrated great skill and success while playing for Oklahoma. D.J. played in all 14 games for the team and made a strong impact with 38 tackles, including a career-high seven tackles during the Big 12 Championship Game against Texas. Among all OSU defensive backs, the red-shirt freshman had the second-highest Pro Football Focus pass coverage grade of 70.2. Even this season, Coach Prime has great expectations for him to make a difference in the Buffs defense. Let’s see if the young player can meet Deion Sanders’ expectations in their upcoming match against the Baylor Beers.