Colorado University Athletics
Coach Prime Remains Confident About Buffs' Future
November 21, 2023 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — While Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes still have a game remaining this year, questions from the media at his weekly press conference focused much more on the big picture.
Colorado (4-7 overall, 1-7 Pac-12) wraps up its season Saturday with a 1 p.m. game at Utah (7-4, 4-4). The Buffs have one last chance to end a losing streak that has hit five games and a skid that has seen them drop seven of their last eight.
That's certainly not how Coach Prime envisioned CU's stretch run unfolding — but no matter what happens Saturday in Salt Lake City, he knows this season has been a solid step forward for a program that won just one game a year ago.
"We didn't accomplish what we wanted but we accomplished what we needed," Sanders said. "I think hope is instilled tremendously in this city, in the student body, within his team, within this building, and you see the direction that we're headed."
Sanders and Colorado took the college football world by storm in September. After he almost completely remade CU's roster, the Buffs jumped out to a 3-0 start and were ranked in the nation's top 25.
But since then, CU has struggled — and the microscope hasn't always been kind.
"I think we didn't do certainly what I wanted to do," Sanders said. "But we're doing tremendously much more than what was done. So you got to put it in perspective. Some things that we accomplished are tremendous. There's some things that we didn't. But we're taking a step in the right direction, two steps in the right direction."
What lies directly ahead — after the Utah game — is recruiting, both from the high school ranks and via the transfer portal.
Sanders said he and his staff have carefully identified needs and he is confident that the Buffs will be able to bolster the areas that need improvement.
"We have tremendous needs," he said. "I'm pretty sure everybody in the country knows what we need and how much we need it. It's not a secret and the recruits are responding. Trust me … They're there. They're calling in and we're responding."
When Sanders arrived last December, he and his staff embarked on a rebuild the likes of which college football had never seen before. By the time the Buffs hit the field in December, there were more than 80 newcomers on the roster, including 68 scholarship players.
This year, the approach will be much more targeted.
"(Last year) Ol' Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard and there wasn't anything there," Sanders said. "You had to just fill the kitchen up … Now it's more directed and more accurate. OK, we need three of those. We need two of those. We need one of those. That's pretty much how we're going at it. We know what we want and we're gonna go get it. I promise you that."
But while CU coaches can be more selective with their targets, that doesn't mean they have changed their foundational approach to recruiting.
"We want players that want us," Sanders said. "Trying to convince somebody and being held hostage financially, we ain't with that. We want players that want to be a Colorado Buffalo and want to come here for all the right reasons. Academically, the city is so darn beautiful … We want people that want to be a part of what we're building."
While Colorado's early success had national media wondering if Sanders and his staff hadn't rewritten the blueprint for college football success, CU's recent slide has brought the critics out of the woodwork. CU's last game, a 56-14 loss at Washington State, only amplified their voices.
Sanders isn't worried.
"We pretty much put a mark in college football, and what we're going to do from here on it will never be the same," he said. "I promise you that because I know how we're recruiting. I know what I know. And I know where we're headed. You gotta be crazy if you can't see it."
While the season didn't meet Sanders' expectations, he also said nothing that has happened to this point has been a big surprise. He and his staff knew what they had when the season started and while the fast start no doubt enhanced the fans' expectations, CU's staff knew there would eventually be bumps in the road.
"I think I showed Rick (George, CU Athletic Director) the projections and what we're trying to get well before the season even started," he said. "We showed him those because everything that has transpired is not new to us. We kind of knew a lot of these things were coming. We knew that before we went out there. But unfortunately they were exposed."
But the future, Sanders said, is bright. The Buffs sold out every home game for the first time in CU history this season and the foundation is in place.
"Colorado Buffalo fans, I love you," Sanders said. "I appreciate you. We're gonna win. Just put your seatbelt on. The ride is gonna get a little shaky, but we're going to win. The climax that we gave you early on, we're gonna get you back there because I know you liked that ride. We're gonna get you back there. We have the same passion, the same purpose. We're gonna win. Just hold on. And it's gonna be a great ride."
SHEDEUR SANDERS UPDATE: Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who left last week's game in the first half with an injury, is day-to-day according to Coach Prime.
"Shedeur is not feeling well right now, it's a day-by-day situation," Coach Prime said. "We're praying that he gets healthy and he's able to play because he is who he is. And when he's on the field we have a tremendous chance to win."
If Sanders can't play, the Buffs will go with either Ryan Staub or Gavin Kuld, both of whom saw action against Washington State. Staub was 5-for-14 for 56 yards and directed a CU touchdown drive late in the game. Kuld was 1-for-3 for 22 yards and an interception.
CU LEADERS: Shilo Sanders has forced four fumbles this year, best in the Pac-12 and second-best among all FBS players … Travis Hunter has now played more than 900 snaps this season … Colorado is still seventh nationally in turnover margin at plus 10 … Punter Mark Vassett has put 12 punts inside the 10-yard line this year and six inside the 5-yard line.
FIRST LOOK UTAH: After spending much of the season ranked in the top 25, the Utes have dropped out of the poll after losing two in a row, including last weekend's 42-18 loss to Arizona (the same Wildcats team that needed a late field goal to beat Colorado, 34-31).
Still, the Utes are a formidable opponent, with the defense allowing just 20 points per game. Utah has recorded 67 tackles for loss, including 31 sacks. Defensive lineman Jonah Elliss leads the Utes with 12 sacks.
Offensively, Utah struggled without quarterback Cam Rising, who missed the season with an injury. The Buffs figure to see Bryson Barnes at quarterback. Barnes has thrown for 1,517 yards and 12 touchdowns, but he's also thrown nine interceptions.
The Utes are averaging nearly 180 yards per game on the ground, led by Ja'Quinden Jackson (674 yards, four touchdowns).
