Already there are speculations of Colorado Buffaloes QB Deion Sanders to take up USC Trojans HC Lincoln Riley’s place. While we are yet to figure out about the coach flip, the Buffs came up with a blow for the Trojans. What better way to target them other than to barge into their roster? Deion’s staffer has now embarked on a mission to flip USC OL commit for the 2025 class.

The four-star recruit had dropped enough hints about him donning the black and gold jersey soon. Is this Deion’s way of taking revenge for the Julian Lewis saga? 

Deion Sanders and co.’s bid to sway USC’s star commit

It has been only more than a month since Riley and the Trojans landed a commitment from Mobile, Alabama. The Williamson four-star tackle Crade Smith gave his words to USC on August 5. And here he is, out again visiting schools. Ever since the news had hit Boulder, Deion’s army has started to whip up a master game plan. On October 3, the national recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman dropped a tweet stating, “Colorado OL coach Phil Loadholt here in Ladd-Peebles Stadium to watch 4-star USC OT commit Carde Smith in action.”

The 6-foot-5 offensive lineman being a four-star prospect is ranked as the No.26 player in the OL position for the 2025 class. Smith flew to Boulder on the September 21-22 weekend. Going by reports, he is planning to be in the Buffs hood for another official visit on October 26.

While the Buffs’ O-line coach Loadholt now drops in person to woo Smith and reel him in, Deion and his crew have been in constant touch with the athlete. “The coaches staying in contact with me even after I committed to another school,” confirmed the 4-star commit. But why Smith? Maybe, it’s Deion’s way of seeking revenge on the Trojans now that his JuJu dream did not come true.  

Deion Sanders and his unfinished business chasing Julian Lewis

Trojans HC Lincoln Riley was on cloud nine with the former Auburn pledge coming off as a big recruiting victory. Smith too seemed to be quite happy with this commitment. Last month, he shared how he desperately wanted to be a part of Deion’s program but it took him one visit to Los Angeles to make up his mind. It was Riley’s reaffirmation that had won Smith’s heart as the Trojans HC once said during a cookout, “Hey man, you know this home. You don’t want to be nowhere else.”

Now you can guess what Riley must have been feeling knowing that their efforts to woo Smith went in vain. That’s exactly what Deion felt about losing their favorite Lewis to the Trojans. What had Coach Prime not done to acquire Lewis’ commitment? From making their oldest fan, 99-year-old Peggy Coppom root for the QB commit, to Boulder’s favorite joint naming their famous burger “Juju’s Precision Pass Burger,” the Buffs had done it all. 

But was Deion Sanders successful in fulfilling their JuJu dream? Sadly, no. Last month in September, Lewis announced a game day visit to Lincoln Riley’s program for USC’s matchup against Wisconsin on September 28. “They put me on the @goodyear blimp so I had to come home. See y’all next week at The Coliseum,” tweeted the QB commit. Now let’s see whether they can soothe their fresh wounds by flipping Smith.