Travis Hunter’s Potential Replacement at CU Buffs Recreates Deion Sanders’ Iconic 1989 Draft Day Photoshoot

Who wouldn’t want to strut around like Deion Sanders? After Mantrez Walker, it’s time for Alex Graham to do so. With D-Day approaching, defensive back Graham is about to embark on his official visit to Boulder. Now that the player has already mastered the skills of imitating the style of Coach Prime to a T, does that mean he is all set to replace Coach Prime’s best impersonator — Travis Hunter? Wondering, out of all, why Hunter?

The Buffs’ dual threat has reached the last lap of his college football journey and will be off to the NFL next year. While in the test of imitation, Graham passed with flying colors. However, will he be able to do justice to Hunter’s on-field records?

Graham pays tribute to Deion Sanders, recreating his look from the special day

On June 23, over the weekend, when Julian Lewis visited Colorado, linebacker Mantrez released the pressure off the Buffs’ shoulders. The player recreated the look from Sanders’ 1989 Draft Day. Now, Graham, too, walks on the same path as Mantrez. But the purpose is to pay a tribute to the Buffs head coach. The post shows the DB dressed in a No. 3 jersey, looking dapper, and seated on a golden Buffs throne. The other picture shows Graham recreating the signature Deion Sanders look with a wired handset from his 1989 Draft Day. The player, too, takes the help of the shades and telephone to give due credit to the Coach Prime look. For the caption, Graham wrote, “BUFF NATION! Go show some love to my latest instagram post! @ alexgraham_3.”   

It was a significant moment when the defensive back, Alex Graham, verbally committed to the Buffaloes in late April. This commitment resulted from a change introduced in the Colorado program, which had established a strong connection with both IMG Academy and Michigan State under the watch of Sanders. Graham, who had taken two trips to Boulder this spring, returned to Coach Prime’s program last weekend, further solidifying his commitment to the Buffaloes.

Graham embraces versatility while making landfall in Boulder

The No. 31 cornerback nationally from IMG Academy for quite some time has been under the Buffs’ radar ever since he committed in April this year. According to On3 Industry Ranking, the four-star cornerback is the No. 210 overall prospect and No. 24 corner in the 2025 cycle. Meanwhile, Graham was more than sure to join the Buffs tribe since what Sanders and his staff have accomplished thus far in Boulder has caught the eye of the DB. More than this, in Boulder, Graham holds an advantage.

With experience at both cornerback and wide receiver at IMG, the player will come up and play the run and be welcomed with open arms. In that case, Deion Sanders and company will no longer have to fret over finding their next two-way phenom after Hunter transitions to the NFL. But the race to replace the Buffs’ dual threat will not be easy for Graham.

As Graham makes his way to potentially take up Hunter’s position, he faces a formidable competitor in Malakai “Hollywood” Murphy. Deion Sanders has been closely watching Murphy since he helped Bradford to a 14-1 record last season, indicating that he might be a strong contender for the role. It’s now a waiting game to see whom Coach Prime ultimately chooses as Hunter’s designated successor, adding an element of suspense to Graham’s journey.