A year ago, when the Colorado Buffaloes finished last in the Pac-12, no one expected Deion Sanders to transform the program in just one season. Competing in the Big 12 this year, the Buffs started strong and narrowly missed a spot in the conference championship.
Sanders silenced his critics, guiding Colorado to an impressive 9-3 record while mentoring standout players like his son Shedeur and Travis Hunter, both finalists for prestigious awards.
Keyshawn Johnson Lauds Deion Sanders’ Colorado Turnaround
NFL veteran Keyshawn Johnson has followed Sanders’ journey closely since his move from Jackson State to Colorado in 2023. On his podcast “All Facts No Brakes,” Johnson reflected on Sanders’ transformation of the Colorado program.
Coach Prime has turned a team with just one win in 2022 into a nine-win squad this season, proving doubters wrong in the process. Johnson: “He [Deion] took over a program that won one game, then he wins four games, loses a handful of games by a touchdown or less, and then comes to this year, when everybody had them in the bottom of a barrel in a Big 12 conference.”
The Buffaloes parted ways with head coach Karl Dorrell after a disastrous 0-5 start in 2022, finishing with 11 losses. When Coach Prime arrived, he faced a tough task of rebuilding a struggling program, overhauling both the roster and coaching staff.
Although the Buffs started the 2023 season with three straight wins, they lost steam and ended with a disappointing 4-8 record.
But this year was a completely different story. Keyshawn Johnson called it “a lovely season” for Sanders and Colorado, though he feels Sanders didn’t get the recognition he deserved for turning things around. He said, “He [Sanders] goes 9-3 and very well could have been 10-2 and playing this Saturday in a Big 12 Championship in Arlington, Texas, when nobody at all, not one soul, wanted to give that man credit for doing the things that he has done.”
Keyshawn Johnson Praises Shedeur and Travis Hunter’s Award-Worthy Seasons
Sanders isn’t just a great coach — he knows how to spot talent and recruit game-changers. When he arrived at Colorado, players like Travis Hunter and his son Shedeur followed him, completely transforming the program.
Keyshawn Johnson didn’t hold back his praise, calling them the best at their positions and insisting they deserve multiple awards this season. He said, “He’ll have the Davey O’Brien quarterback guy in his son, Shedeur, who will win that. He’ll have the Heisman Trophy winner in Travis Hunter. He didn’t even get the Jim Thorpe. He should have the Thorpe, the Biletnikoff, and the Heisman all on his shelf at home.”
Both players backed up the hype with incredible stats this season. Shedeur threw for 3,926 yards, 35 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, with a stellar 74.2% completion rate.
Hunter dominated on both sides of the ball, posting 92 receptions, 1,152 yards, and 14 touchdowns on offense, while adding 21 tackles, four interceptions, and 11 pass deflections on defense.
With their efforts, they have taken Colorado to greater heights, but the question remains — will they get the awards when it’s all said and done?