Deion Sanders explains how players can earn their jersey numbers

Deion Sanders is changing the game at Colorado, teaching his players that everything they get on the football field will be earned.

Even their jersey numbers. Speaking with the media, the Buffaloes head coach explained how he’s handling players getting their number, and what factors go into what he’s looking for.

“Consistency. Fighting every play. Understanding the offense. Not blowing assignments, not busting certain things that we’re asking of them. Leadership, as well. We just really want guys to give it their all,” explained Sanders. “Sometimes we have ten plays on the script, I may want 15, because I know some guys are on the verge of shutting it down, and I want to see would they actually shut it down. Then I did the same with the twos when they came out, so it was a lot of equality out there, it wasn’t just picking on this team or this team. I just wanted to see their capacity. Their breaking point. They did a pretty good job. They didn’t quit, they did not quit at all.

“They may not have given the effort that we desired, and the standard that we desired, but they didn’t shut it down, which is positive.”

It’s tough to disagree with Sanders’ sentiment. While he’s bringing over a bevy of players with him to Colorado, he’s not guaranteeing anything, believing you have to fight for your right to everything on the football field. That’ll be important to rebuilding the Buffaloes’ program.

Evidently, things are coming along smoothly for Colorado, as Sanders elaborated on how his team is gelling after a winter of upheaval. 

“It’s coming,” Sanders said. “Usually college and high school kids come from everywhere and you go into portal and you get what you want. You add to your coaching staff to have the best possible staff you can. That means someone’s coming from somewhere that you had no idea with a relationship.

“We don’t care about the continuity. We care about getting players that are smart, tough, fast and disciplined. We need speed. We need physicality. We needed a desire and a certain want. A certain level of joy.”

The Buffaloes are coming off a 1–11 seasons and have made just two bowl games since 2006. Sanders hopes to make changes quickly, but it could take some time.

Nevertheless, nobody is betting against Deion Sanders at Colorado. It’s going to be fun to enjoy the ride regardless, as Coach Prime looks to enter the upper-echelon of college football coaches.