- NCAA. Shedeur Sanders' absence will make Deion's heart grow fonder as Colorado tipped for 2025 struggle
- NCAA. Shedeur Sanders sets an over-ambitious condition for Coach Prime to be a guest on his podcast
True to his word, Deion Sanders remained at Colorado despite reported interest from NFL teams. The Dallas Cowboys, who eventually promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach, and the Las Vegas Raiders, who hired Pete Carroll after his one-year sabbatical, were rumored to be pursuing Sanders. However, Coach Prime made it clear at the end of last season that he was happy in Boulder and would only leave for the NFL if he could continue coaching his sons, Shedeur and Shilo Sanders. Shedeur is along with Cam Ward the top quarterback in the class of 2025 and is projected to be a top-five pick in the draft, while Shilo has had a tougher road but is still expected to be a late round pick.
Although Colorado's season ended in disappointment with a crushing 36-14 loss to BYU in the Alamo Bowl, their nine-win campaign was the program's best in nearly a decade, but it extended their drought without a bowl game victory to 21 years. Fortunately, the loss won't affect the draft stock of Colorado's two biggest stars, Heisman winner Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders. As for Deion, he'll have his work cut out for him to maintain the same energy for next season without his best player, so he's already making moves for new players and a new Hall of Fame coach.
Marshall Faulk to Revamp the Running Game
As previously mentioned, Sanders is now making moves to reshape his coaching staff, bringing in Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk as the Buffaloes' new running backs coach. Faulk, a seven-time Pro Bowler, former MVP and Super Bowl champion, is the latest NFL legend to Sanders' staff, ing fellow Hall of Famer Warren Sapp. Faulk's addition signals a major shift for Colorado as Sanders looks to rebuild an offense that relied heavily on Shedeur's ing the past two seasons. With Shedeur and Hunter both heading to the NFL, Sanders may pivot to a more balanced attack that relies on the running game - a part of the offense that has been nearly non-existent during his tenure. Colorado's running backs combined for just 847 yards and 15 touchdowns (4 by Shedeur) in 2024, a glaring weakness that Faulk is expected to address.
Faulk, who rushed for 12,279 yards in his NFL career and revolutionized the running back position with his dual-threat ability, is no stranger to boosting a team's offensive production. His arrival is a major boost for players like Isaiah Augustave, Micah Welch, Dallan Hayden and Drelon Miller, who will now have one of the greatest backs in NFL history guiding their development. This hire is in keeping with Sanders' philosophy of surrounding his team with coaches who have played at the highest level. Just as Warren Sapp helped improve the Buffaloes' defensive line, Faulk's presence could transform the running back room. "Deion is an elevator," Faulk said before the Super Bowl. "He's going to elevate you as a person, and he's going to force you to elevate your life. That's what it does. He lifts people up."
Faulk's First Coaching Job
This will be Faulk's first official coaching job, and he's set to earn $400,000 in his first year, with a base salary of $300,000 and an additional $100,000 for community outreach according to USA Today. His salary is expected to increase in his second year, but the real value comes from what he brings to the field. His experience as a rusher and receiver could add a new dimension to the Colorado offense. With two Hall of Famers now coaching under Sanders, the Buffaloes are setting a precedent in college football. Could this be the future of the sport? The surprise hiring of Bill Belichick at North Carolina suggests that more former NFL stars may follow suit, eager to leave their mark on the next generation of players.