Deion Sanders responds to Brent Venables' comments about roster turnover, transfer portal

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables made some waves this week for his comments on revamping the roster, taking a shot at Colorado coach Deion Sanders in the process. Tuesday, Sanders took to Twitter to respond.

Colorado’s roster turnover has been well-documented this offseason as more than 50 players entered the transfer portal during the 2023 cycle. That amount of turnover has been the subject of some criticism as Sanders planed to bring “luggage” with him from Jackson State.

So after Venables said he wasn’t “like Deion” in his roster overhaul, Sanders defended his approach. He also called out a fake quote going around apparently attributed to him, saying he plans to find out how it started.

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“Will someone please help me track down who put the lie out that was a response to the latest coaches attack on @CUBuffsFootball,” Sanders tweeted. “Please help me identify the LIAR. God bless.”

“Please read this slowly,” Sanders followed up. “I’ve Never responded to any of these Great coaches that choose to target me or our program here @CUBuffsFootball. I’m Great at walking & talking the talk & if it were truly me I would’ve referenced a LAMBORGHINI. That’s #CoachPrime”

Venbales’ comments came as he opened up about how he turned the roster over after replacing Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma. In the process, he likened Sanders’ strategy to handing out “pink slips” right after becoming the head coach.

“We’re another year in establishing our standards and our culture and our values,” Venables said. “That matters. A year ago, I challenged the guys. I wasn’t like Deion that gave guys a bunch of pink slips. I gave the guys 12 months of grace to go to class, live right off the field and to show up with a great sense of urgency and respect for your opportunity at the University of Oklahoma.”

Colorado not only saw a lot of transfers leave, but the Buffaloes also brought in some big names from the portal. Among the group is Travis Hunter — the No. 1 player to enter the portal this cycle, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings, who followed Sanders from Jackson State. Sanders has faced criticism before for how he handled the roster, and he told FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt he’s not surprised by the backlash at all.

“Not whatsoever because it’s always been that way,” Sanders said. “Even when I was starting out in sports, I was the one that was not voted ‘Most Likely to Succeed.’ Undersized, this and that it was always a problem. It was always that … So I’m used to that, I’m accustomed to adversity and I’m accustomed to having an understanding of ridicule and disbelief.”

As for Oklahoma, the Sooners brought in 14 transfers last year after Venables arrived from Clemson and have 18 more coming in from the 2023 cycle. Three of the newcomers this season are top-50 transfers, according to On3. That group is headlined by EDGE Dasan McCullough, who was On3’s No. 27-ranked transfer.