You’d think the transfer portal was the Wild West the way Deion Sanders is out here flexing. Colorado just came off a jaw-dropping 9-3 season, flipping the script on what used to be a joke of a program. Coach Prime snagged Jehiem Oatis, Alabama’s monster defensive tackle, and the dude wasn’t just any player—he was the top-ranked defender in the portal. So, yeah, Deion’s been playing chess while everyone else is still stuck on checkers.

But Bama’s Kalen DeBoer wasn’t about to let that slide, and he came swinging right back, snatching one of Colorado’s key defenders, Nikhai Hill-Green. Hill-Green committing to Alabama feels like a gut punch for the Buffs. The linebacker had become a cornerstone of Colorado’s defense, racking up 206 tackles, 8PD, 4 sacks, 1 FF, 2 picks and earning All-Big 12 honors. But let’s be real—this move wasn’t completely out of left field.

The dude’s been tight with some Crimson Tide players since his high school days, and the chance to run it back with his boys in Tuscaloosa was too good to pass up for him. The man’s got one year of eligibility in his hand. It’s a do-or-die type of situation for Hill-Green. You can expect him to put 8+ sacks for Bama. As much as it stings for Deion, Hill-Green joining Bama might just be a chess piece DeBoer needed to stay in the game and make it to the playoffs next season.

Colorado’s defense was one of the most improved in the country last season, thanks to Deion’s transfer-heavy strategy and Travis Hunter. Travis Hunter had Big 12 QB on choke. The QBs read the defense, see Travis Hunter locking his go-to-guy, and decide to sling the pigskin the other way. But now, that’s history. With Hill-Green gone and several other starters hitting the portal, the Buffs are scrambling to reload.

Man, not gonna lie. Losing Shedeur & Travis Hunter on one off-season is diabolical. That’s like losing your Batman and Robin in one shot. Still, Deion Sanders got some heavy hitters coming in, like 5-star QB prodigy Julian Lewis and Liberty’s Kaidon Salter. But can he plug all the gaps before the portal closes on December 28?

A transfer portal tug-of-war between Kalen DeBoer and Deion Sanders

This back-and-forth between Deion and DeBoer feels like a heavyweight fight. Oatis picking Colorado over Alabama was a statement—Deion isn’t just recruiting; he’s building a brand. Oatis even said, “I’m headed to Colorado to make the team great again.” That’s the type of swagger Sanders brings to the table. But DeBoer’s not exactly backing down. Grabbing Hill-Green was his way of saying, “Game on.”

Alabama’s no stranger to dominance apart from this season, and Hill-Green joining their ranks only solidifies their defense for 2025. He’s a plug-and-play guy who can make an immediate impact and blend well with that defense within week 3. Not gonna lie, Colorado low-key lost edge here. Colorado’s got to figure out how to rebuild a defense that went from 124th to 38th in scoring last year. Losing Hill-Green isn’t just a roster hit—it’s a momentum killer.

Still, Deion thrives on chaos. He’s built his whole brand on flipping doubters into believers, and this offseason will be no different. With time running out, the pressure’s on to lock down more talent and keep Colorado in the national conversation. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Coach Prime, though, it’s this: never count him out. As the transfer portal saga unfolds, one thing’s clear—college football’s becoming as much about the offseason drama as the games themselves. And honestly? We’re here for it.