The recruiting season never ends for Colorado’s new football coach, Deion Sanders.
Even after announcing an elegance of the 25 most sensible newcomers last week on national signing day, “Coach Prime” once again leveraged its celebrity and national platform to pitch for the Buffaloes in Boulder.
This time, he was set to hand out an award at the NFL’s rite of honor Thursday in Phoenix, near Sunday’s Super Bowl site in Glendale, Arizona. The event was televised nationally on NBC.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to recruit,” Sanders said, drawing laughter from the crowd of NFL luminaries.
Sanders later said Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told him he could borrow “The Star” for his recruitment efforts, a reference to the Cowboys’ headquarters in Frisco, Texas. Sanders also said Jimmy Johnson, the coach of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, also has prospects.
“I love all your cousins
Deion is ?recruiting @DeionSanders?: #NFLHonors on NBC pic. twitter. com/XMzRnvMe6B
Sanders, also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has publicly downplayed the importance of “NULL money” in his recruiting messages, meaning players can now earn a source of income through their names, photographs and likenesses (NIL).
He himself is a prominent type of NIL as a promoter of Mexican lawyers, Aflac and Oikos yogurt.
But he said it last week: “If you’re here for NIL, or to be rich, we’re not the school for you. “
Instead, he has used his celebrity and personality to attract recruits, particularly by amplifying Colorado’s national logo by appearing on several national television screens since announcing his hiring at CU in early December.
He also used his social media platforms to continue his recruitment drive for recruits in several states, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.
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“Are there any Louisiana dogs that feel undervalued, overwhelmed, abandoned or neglected?I need you because I know what you have inside. ” I’m not Hard 2 Find, but I’m for you right now,” he wrote. on Twitter last week.
One of them spoke over the weekend.
Lafayette’s Christian quarterback, La. Ju’Juan Johnson has committed to playing for the Buffs in 202four. He chose Colorado over Alabama, Georgia and others and ranked fourth in Louisiana through the 2four7Sports Composite.
“They’re building everything I need to be a component,” Johnson said after delivering his resolution to play for Colorado. “He’s also the head coach. . . the culture it brings. And with him, I feel like it’s not just about football. It is. . . a man. This is my ultimate goal: one man, one bigger man. “
His resolve helped the Buffs rise to No. 12th in the national recruiting rankings for 2024, to 247Sports.
All this after Colorado finished 1-11 last year, its wasted season in the last 17 years.
Follow journalist Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday. com