Deion Sanders, Colorado loading up on transfers from alma mater, Florida State

The NCAA transfer portal has drastically altered the college football landscape and even traditional loyalties sometimes don’t stop moves from happening. Just take a look at Deion Sanders and Colorado.

The new Colorado head coach has been extremely active in the portal. And one of the places he’s pulled the most talent from is his alma mater, Florida State.

Sanders and the Buffaloes have already landed five former Seminoles.

Among the new additions from Florida State: cornerback Omarion Cooper, defensive lineman Derrick McLendon, defensive lineman Bishop Thomas, linebacker Brendan Gant and defensive back Travis Jay.

As Sanders explained during the spring: Get used to it.

“Well, this is the genesis of the new era, the new thing. This was the genesis, this was the beginning of everything and the direction that we go right now,” Sanders said after the team’s spring game. “You all know that we’re gonna move on from some of the team members. We’re gonna reload and get some kids that we really identify with. This process is gonna be quick, it’s gonna be fast. But we are gonna get it done…We are gonna roll.”

Of the Florida State transfers to Colorado, only Thomas has failed to make much of an impact at the college level already.

A few of the new additions from Sanders’ alma mater, Florida State, have been quite productive.

Gant has tallied 112 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, a sack, a forced fumble, an interception and three passes defended across four seasons. McLendon isn’t terribly far behind, logging 61 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, 7.0 sacks and a forced fumble.

Even Cooper and Jay have some nice production to back up their additions, with Jay responsible for 43 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble and Cooper having 30 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble.

The additions should greatly improve a Colorado team that won just one game a year ago.

And though the transfer portal strategy employed by Sanders has come under scrutiny for the sheer number of players that have churned, even Sanders’ athletics director has lent his full support.

On3’s JD PicKell is also a fan. Even if it means Sanders is raiding his alma mater, Florida State, routinely.

“Coach Prime and company, they got the number two portal class for us,” PicKell said on The Hard Count with JD PicKell. “They just flipped the entire roster. Like when you talk about Colorado this coming season, I don’t want to hear a peep about what they did in 2022. A lot of people are gonna say, ‘Oh they only won one game.’ Those people that were a part of that one win season aren’t in Boulder, Colorado anymore.

“Coach Prime went and got 43 transfers and counting. The sheer volume of new individuals they have on that roster is just frightening. It’s a totally new outfit at Colorado. And it’s not just the volume. They also got some really good players.”