“Can’t Be Negative”: Deion Sanders’ Player Departure Backlash Decried as Overly Exaggerated

Deion Sanders and his Colorado Buffaloes have become a hot topic for critics, especially with the recent exodus of over 40 players. Some departing players have even publicly criticized Deion’s coaching style, fueling the negativity. Along with that, concerns about his ability to retain talent and accusations of favoritism towards his sons Shedeur and Shilo have added to the scrutiny.

Furthermore, Deion’s blingy attitude and high-spirited words haven’t always translated to victories on the field, leading to more criticism. However, amidst such negativity, podcaster Aaron Torres argues that the situation is being blown out of proportion. He believes that the 56-year-old coach deserves a fairer assessment and that the intense backlash is unwarranted.

Aaron Torres defends Deion Sanders amidst roster turnover drama

In his recent video, Aaron Torres addressed the criticism surrounding Deion Sanders and his roster turnover. While acknowledging the loss of key players like Omarion Cooper and Dylan Edwards as a setback, Torres brought to light that the team has also brought in “legitimately good players out of the portal.” He specifically mentioned the additions of Ohio State running back Dallas Hayden, Texas offensive tackle Payton Kirkland, and LSU’s five-star defensive end Quency Wiggins. He then urged for a balanced perspective on the situation, saying, “If we’re going to have an honest conversation about Deion, it can’t be negative, negative, negative, negative. I think he’s actually significantly upgraded the talent this year.”

While some critics point to last year’s similar roster overhaul and the resulting 4-8 record as a reason for concern, Torres argued that Deion Sanders has raised the standard for the Buffaloes. He reminded viewers that the team had a dismal 1-11 record in 2022 and improved to four wins in 2023 under Sanders’ leadership. “Last season they overachieved. The portal stuff is actually probably better than people giving it credit for” he said. While acknowledging that the “Deion stuff is way way way over exaggerated” he also pointed out minor flaws in the current roster. 

Coach Prime’s recruiting raises eyebrows, but hope remains

While defending Deion Sanders, Aaron Torres expressed his reservations about the coach’s heavy reliance on the transfer portal for recruiting. Torres believes that while the portal is a valuable tool, it’s not ideal to build a team primarily through transfers. He stated, “I don’t think it’s healthy to try to bring in whatever, 30, 40, 50 guys in an offseason through the portal. I don’t think it’s healthy to take 6, 7, 8 high school recruits and everybody else through the portal.” He noted the importance of establishing a “foundation of 20 to 25 high school recruits every year”, as some may not develop as expected or transfer. However, he clarified that despite this critique, “it’s not nearly as bad as everybody makes it out to be.” 

Torres’s perspective seems to resonate with many, as evidenced by the record-breaking single-game ticket sales for the Colorado Buffaloes on May 20th. This marks the second consecutive season with such a surge in ticket sales, suggesting that the “Deion Effect” still remains strong and fans continue to believe in him. Meanwhile, the podcaster also predicts a hopeful outlook for the Buffaloes this year, citing an “easier schedule” in the Pac-12 with “no Oregon, no USC.” It looks like the best time for Prime Time to silence his critics.