Deion Sanders has been very vocal about the idea that recruiting high schoolers in the modern era of college football is antiquated. The transfer portal is a better, more efficient focus.
Coach Prime‘s unique approach to roster management saw Colorado turn over more than 70 players from the previous team during the offseason. Most of them were replaced few the portal.
In the current system, there is often more value in a player with experience on the collegiate level than an unproven high schooler. A player in the portal has already faced FBS or FCS talent. It is easy to look at the film and see where they might need to improve. A player fresh out of high school may need time to adjust to the speed and physicality of the next level — just look at Cormani McClain and the saga that has unfolded throughout his first year in Boulder.
Sanders is not alone in his thinking. However, that does not mean that he will only take portal players.
Colorado and its first-year head coach are in the business of acquiring talent, like top 2024 recruit Aaron Butler, who has arms the size of trees and just ended his senior season early. They also added a quarterback on Friday.
Deion Sanders landed his replacement for Shedeur.
Antwaan Hill Jr., a four-star prospect in the Class of 2025, is considered the sixth-ranked player in his year at his position. He stands 6-foot-5, 215 pounds and can really sling it.
Hill had 28 offers, including Tennessee, UCF, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Miami, Georgia, Florida State and Auburn. He chose the Buffaloes!
While discussing his recruitment and commitment, Hill made an interesting comment. He said that the staff put the full-court press on him since the first minute of the first day that they were able to reach out.
There is still a long way to go before Hill signs his NLI so things could change. However, he continued on to say that “[Coach Prime and his staff] want me to take over the program when Shedeur leaves.”
That’s very telling for a few reasons.
- Hill sounds pretty locked into his commitment.
- Sanders and the Buffaloes believe that Hill is going to be their quarterback of the future.
- It sounds like Shedeur will be around for another season.
Deion said back in September that both of his sons, Shedeur and Shilo, will be back next season. Hill seemingly alluded to the same.
If the plan for him is to take over once Shedeur Sanders leaves, that is still two years away. Hill is a Class of 2025 recruit, which means that his first opportunity to play would be Week 1 of 2025.
Shedeur, a junior, could enter the NFL Draft in April. He would likely be a first or second round pick.
And yet, based on what his dad and his dad’s newest quarterback commit are saying, it sounds like Shedeur will be back in black and gold next season. That would give Hill the keys as a freshman in two years.