Before he conquered the worlds of NFL and MLB, Deion Sanders was a college sensation at Florida State. Sanders excelled in college football, baseball, and track and field during his four-year haul at Florida. Athletes have more player power and chances to accrue money in the current landscape of college football. Without being an active player, Coach Prime’s bold moves already generate media attention and fan frenzy on the issue of NIL deals.

It is worth asking how “Prime Time” would have fared when it comes to NIL deals. The hosts of the All the Smoke podcast asked Coach Prime what his 19-year-old self would look like if he could sign endorsement deals. Per Sanders, “I don’t even know who to even compare me to what I would be like.” Taking a religious angle, Colorado’s head coach further said, “Jesus. I would need help because of all the access, the Internet. Trouble. I would really need Jesus to come down, himself. … ‘Slow down.’”

Sanders is not oblivious to fame. After a storied playing career, Coach Prime continues to make headlines in his current role at Colorado. Despite that, the NIL fame might just be a different story altogether, even for “Prime Time”. For that matter, Sanders asked whether he was saved (referring to his Christian beliefs) while answering the question about NIL deals. “Because if he ain’t have the Lord with him… it’s gonna be trouble,” per Sanders.

Deion Sanders on NIL deals

NIL deals have changed the way athletes approach college football. However, it is not a perfect story for every stakeholder. Various head coaches have spoken out on the changes in athlete expectations due to NIL. Coach Prime believes that if college athletes wish to be paid like professional players, they must also be open to how the media treats the latter.

“See there has been a safeguard around college athletes that the media don’t really go at them because they’re amateurs,” Sanders said. However, that has changed, especially since now “college players are making more than the media.” This becomes more impertinent as college athletes now face constant opinions in the world of social media. That being said, per Coach Prime, athletes must adjust their expectations because not everyone is going to be paid the same. 

Referring to Travis Hunter, his star player at Colorado, Coach Sanders pointed out how “everybody ain’t equal.” Hunter, who can play both defense and offense, could be paid double than the others, Coach Prime suggested, albeit in a lighter vein. Going by the media headlines around NIL deals of college athletes, “Prime Time” would have been a sensation in this landscape. What do you think? Tell us your opinion!