Deion Sanders is Overhauling the University of Colorado Football Roster and 51 Players Could Be Cut

Deion Sanders has a major math problem to solve as he looks to overhaul the University of Colorado football roster. The head coach is restricted to 85 scholarship players per year by NCAA rules, but Sanders has already signed a huge 42 newcomers and wants to bring in even more. That means the 51 players who were already active before Sanders arrived could face the chop as he aims to supercharge his roster.
“We don’t weed anyone out; they weed themselves out,” Sanders said, adding he wants his players to “make you quit.” Sanders did not mince words, telling his players they’d need to step up or step out when he first arrived as head coach.
Having gone 1-11 last season, Sanders was determined to shake things up, and so far his approach has worked. The team’s spring practice season concludes with a sold-out inter-squad game at Folsom Field. Sanders indicated that more recruits will be attending this weekend, suggesting that even more players might be on the way.

Sanders and his staff have been evaluating players this spring to decide how much further they can improve the roster. The overhaul could be unprecedented, considering that before last year, players generally were not allowed to transfer to another school without first sitting out a year of competition. Sanders has already welcomed 14 four-year college transfers and seven graduate transfers, and several more could follow in or out of the portal soon.

Off the field, Sanders’ transformation has fueled hope and helped drive demand for merchandise and tickets. The spring football game is sold out at about 45,000, smashing Colorado’s previous spring game record of 17,800 in 2008. ESPN will televise it nationally as the only college spring football game on its main network. Sanders also announced on Monday that the school had sold out of season tickets for the first time in 27 years.

Sanders’ pro-level approach to the college game presents a rare challenge for players who aren’t used to being scrutinized like professional athletes. As Sanders himself put it: “I’m trying to create a pro mentality here, and the pro mentality starts with competition.” Whether his bold strategy will result in more wins remains to be seen, but it is clear that Sanders has brought a new level of excitement to the Colorado team.