Colorado University Athletics
Big 12 Media Days Notes: Coach Prime Has High Praise For Woods
July 10, 2024 | Football, Neill Woelk
LAS VEGAS — While Colorado stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter received their fair of attention at Wednesday's Big 12 Media Days at Allegiant Stadium, CU's Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders held out some of the highest praise of the day for a player not even in attendance.
Sanders spoke of linebacker Trevor Woods in glowing terms, predicting that the safety-turned-inside linebacker will become a "dominant" player.
"I really think this young man is going to be the next Brian Urlacher," Sanders predicted. "I think he's going to take the transition from safety to linebacker and be dominant."
For those who might not remember the name, Urlacher played safety and linebacker in college before becoming a first round draft pick of the Chicago Bears. He went on to be selected to eight pro bowls and was a four-time All-Pro before finally being elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Woods, a senior, has been a mainstay for the Buffs throughout his career. He made the switch from safety to linebacker midway through last season and despite missing three games because of injury, he finished third on the team with 56 tackles to go along with two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
BIG EXPECTATIONS: Quarterback Sanders and two-way star Hunter are being projected as first-round draft picks.
But Coach Prime said the Buffs' goal is to have four taken in the first round of next spring's NFL Draft — and he singled out defensive lineman B.J. Green as one of those possible first rounders.
Green, a transfer from Arizona State, actually played for Sanders in a youth football league in Dallas.
"B.J Green is already a leader," Sanders said. "They raised him right at Arizona State, and for him to come over now, it's phenomenal. His work ethic, the way he approaches and attacks the game is phenomenal. His want, his desire, his will. I just got finished doing an interview, and they say, 'Well, you have two young men projected to be the top five picks.' I said, 'Yeah, but we want four in the first round. And that's going to happen as we win and they are dominant. And I think B.J. Green could be one of those guys and I think he will be one of those guys."
NO CUPCAKE IN OPENER: Sanders doesn't appear to be overjoyed at the Buffs' season opener, a matchup with perennial FCS power North Dakota State.
"They're good — they're really darned good," Sanders said. "I'm mad at Rick (George, Colorado AD) right now for putting them on the schedule, opening up. Can you give me a layup or something? Those guys are wonderful. Their staff has always been amongst the best. Many people have matriculated from that staff to go to higher levels. Those kids play their butts off. They're tough. They don't make many mistakes. They're accustomed to winning. They don't give a darn about being at home or on the road. That does not faze them whatsoever."
The game has been moved to a 6 p.m. kickoff on Aug. 29 (Thursday) and will be televised by ESPN.
"It's going to be a phenomenal game, a phenomenal matchup," Sanders said. "That program is second to none."
HUNTER WORKLOAD: Despite missing three full games because of an injury last season, Hunter played an FBS-leading 1,102 total snaps. In the process, he became the first player in at least a quarter century to have 50 receptions and three interceptions in the same season.
Coach Prime — also a standout two-way player in his career — was asked if he expected Hunter's workload to increase.
"It's so funny that everybody has an opinion on what he should do, and they've never done it," Sander said. "He has a coach who has done it. I know how many days a week to give him off. I know when he's getting on my last nerve on the bench, so I need to put his butt out there so he can leave me alone by getting in the game. This kid is a flat out playmaker. That guy right there, he's the best receiver in college football and he's the best cornerback in college football. That's the truth."
WHAT OTHER COACHES SAID: Here's a sampling of what other Big 12 coaches had to say about Coach Prime and Colorado:
Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy: "I have a lot of respect for coach's career. I know a lot more about him as a player than I did as a coach because has not coached for a long period of time at this level. We had meetings in Phoenix, Big 12 administrative and football coaches. And it was very enjoyable being in a room with him and his contribution to a lot of the subjects that we talked about. I think we're lucky in our league that he's with us because he brings more people and notoriety and viewers to the Big 12 Conference, and that's what makes it go. We need viewership. We want people to watch our teams play. It's fun for me to have Colorado back in our league and to be able to compete against him."
Texas Tech's Joey McGuire: "It's great to see Colorado back in the right conference. Man, I love Deion. I coached Bucky (Deion Sanders Jr.), his oldest son, in high school. He's honestly the best dad of a player that I've ever had.He was absolutely incredible. But what he brings, he's who he is. He doesn't make any excuses, and he doesn't take anything back. He's going to say what he believes in and say what he thinks. He brings a lot of excitement that I think Colorado is going to be really good. They've added a lot of talent and they do have one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. Whenever you've got a quarterback like his son that can make plays with his arm and his feet, you've got a chance to win games."
Utah's Kyle Whittingham: "First of all, Coach Sanders has done a great job infusing excitement into that program and talent. His own sons are terrific players. … Essentially he's put Colorado football back on the map.Year two, I'm sure they're looking for progress. They started off very strong last year. Injuries caught up to them and didn't end the way they wanted, I'm sure. But he's definitely rejuvenated things in Boulder."
UCF's Gus Malzahn (who unsuccessfully attempted to recruit Shedeur Sanders to Auburn): "I'm a big Deion fan. Goes back to his playing days and all that. The exposure that he's giving our conference I think is excellent. He does things his own way. But I think he brings a lot to our conference. I think he is doing a lot of great things. His son is one of the best quarterbacks if not the best quarterback. We play them early. That'll be a huge game. There's no doubt about that.But he does a great job."
