Deion Sanders took an unprecedented approach to roster management upon arrival to Colorado. He flipped the vast majority of his roster and replaced 52 scholarship players during his first five months as head coach in Boulder.
A video of Coach Prime’s first meeting with the Buffaloes holdovers went viral, in which he said that there were better college football players on the way through the portal. The message was pretty clear. Very few players from the previous roster would be retained.
Although Deion Sanders got his way and loaded his team with a lot of talented transfers, there was signficant resentment among the holdovers he cut loose. Especially when he did so following the spring practice period.
Colorado’s unprecedented roster turnover left players in a very tough spot.
Xavier Smith, who transferred to Austin Peay after being cut by Colorado despite playing in the spring game, was disappointed with the entire situation. The redshirt freshman defensive back told the Associated Press that it was a big letdown.
We all have expectations of a coach and I just feel like those expectations weren’t met […]
All I wanted was a coach to be honest with me and five me an opportunity.
— Xavier Smith, via AP News
He ultimately used the entire saga as motivation.
To me it’s like, “Who are you to tell me that I’m not good enough to play here?” So it’s just proving people wrong and proving to myself and my family that I am who I say I am and that I’m going to do what I say I’m going to do.
— Xavier Smith, via AP News
Smith is not the only one who feels betrayed!
Deion Sanders waited too long to make cuts.
Offensive lineman Luke Eckardt was thrilled when Sanders was announced as his new head coach. The speech about Louis luggage motivated him to work harder during the winter workouts and spring practice. The 6-foot-6, 290-pound redshirt freshman worked with the No. 2s and thought that he played well enough during practice and the spring game to be retained.
That was not the case. Eckardt was cut alongside 40/50 other players after the spring game, and ultimately landed at one of the top junior college programs in the country.
None of his issues lie with the players. Just the coaches — especially Sanders, who he said was cordial but often ignored the players from the 2022 Colorado team. Eckardt isn’t sure if the first-year head coach even knew his name.
All my resentment is just for the leadership and the coaches and all that. I don’t have any anger toward the team.
— Luke Eckardt, via AP News
His parents were shocked when their son called to tell them the news of his release. They believe that Coach Prime did not honor his word. They believe that his speech to players was a bold-faced lie.
[Deion Sanders] told them if “you don’t want to work, then leave.” If you’re going to put the work in, then put the work in.
There was nothing about “put the work in but at some point we’re probably going to get rid of you.”
It was a harsh message at the first meeting. But it did not convey “work your fingers to the bone” like all those kids did and then they’re just going to drop them after the spring game.
— Anne Eckardt, via AP News
Although Eckardt landed at a top JUCO, and has offers from Louisiana Tech and Eastern Kentucky, he wishes that Coach Prime would have handled things differently.
I didn’t think they were going to just make us do the whole charade… and then kick us off.
– Luke Eckardt, via AP News
The 6-foot-6, 295-pound tackle would have preferred if Sanders let him go last December. That would have allowed him, and other players who were cut, more time to find a new opportunity. Instead, he thinks that the staff kept them around to ensure a strong enough product for the Colorado Buffaloes‘ sold-out spring game.