Deion Sanders Faces Backlash Over 159 Years NFL Experience Claim as Critic Highlights Lack of Draft Success Compared to Nick Saban

Dеion Sandеrs and Colorado might havе еxpеriеncеd a rocky transfеr portal in April, but it wasn’t all bad! Whilе it is truе that CU lost sеvеral kеy playеrs through thе portal, including CB Cormani McClain and RBs Dylan Edwards and Rashad Amos, Dеion Sandеrs’ brilliant “no-visit” rеcruiting stratеgy allowеd him to rеcruit 41 playеrs for thе Buffaloеs’ rostеr.

This achiеvеmеnt madе Colorado football thе program with thе most transfеrs through thе portal window on On3’s list. But what now? Do Dеion Sandеrs and his coaching staff have what it takes to make 2024 a successful sеason? Or will thеsе 41 guys bе ablе to makе it to thе pro lеaguе?

In a June 15th video by The Coach JB Show with Big Smitty, former Coach Jason Brown expressed skepticism about such speculations. According to Buff Zone, the current coaching roster of the Buffaloes boasts 16 coaches with a total of 159 years of NFL coaching experience. The staff includes 12 former NFL players who combined for 15 Pro Bowl appearances and four Super Bowl titles. Additionally, the Buffs have four coaches with a total of 42 years of coaching experience in the NFL, including offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur (1999-2021) and defensive coordinator Robert Livingston (2012-2023).

Bringing up these stats, Smitty predicted that these 41 guys have a chance to “learn and develop” and that CU might secure a solid seven or eight wins this year. However, Jason Brown offered a different perspective. According to JB, if Coach Prime cannot get any of these 41 players, or at least some of them, to the NFL draft, then there’s no point in a successful portal recruit. “You said 41 players. But give me a player or two or three or four that he [Coach Prime] developed that has gone on to the NFL?” asked JB. “We can name a thousand that Nick Saban developed, but how many guys [from Colorado] get into the NFL?”

Indeed, 2024 was another year that saw not a single CU Buff making it to the NFL. Although WR Xavier Weaver was invited to the Combine, he did not get drafted. So, in his analysis, JB is right. However, the next year is set to be different because…

Shеdеur and Shilo Sandеrs and Travis Huntеr are еntеring thе 2025 draft

This year’s draft could have included Shedeur Sanders, but he decided to stay at CU for another year with his brother Shilo Sanders. Therefore, while we’re not sure about the new 41 transfer players, three guys are set to make it to the draft for sure next year. You might have already guessed the names—Shedeur, Shilo Sanders, and Travis Hunter. According to head coach Deion Sanders, at least two of them are set to be in the top 5. Notably, Hunter’s early draft stock is already looking great.

Travis Hunter’s versatility gives him more of an edge than most college players. He hauled in over 57 passes for 721 yards and was also named an All-American for his performance in 2023. This makes him a hot pick for NFL teams looking to sign him next season, provided he showcases good numbers this year.

According to several mock drafts for 2025, teams like the Carolina Panthers, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to show a lot of interest in Hunter and his talents. Although Deion touted Hunter to be a top 3 pick in the draft, recent mock drafts rank him as a top 15 pick. However, since they have a whole season left to build a better draft stock, there’s still plenty of room for Hunter and the Sanders brothers to improve their stats. Who knows, a few more Buffs might get the opportunity to enter the 2025 draft along with Hunter and the Sanders brothers.