Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has made it clear that he will not engage in a public war of words with former athletes who have voiced dissatisfaction with the Buffaloes program. Speaking Tuesday, Sanders indicated that despite recent critical comments from players who entered the transfer portal, he intends to maintain a professional distance and avoid retaliatory remarks.
“We’re not gonna be provoked or comment back. I wish them the best,” Sanders said Tuesday, choosing a posture of restraint as he prepares for his fourth season at the helm of the program.
The decision to remain silent comes amid a wave of candid assessments from former Colorado players now settled at other high-profile programs. These athletes have cited discrepancies in training philosophies, facility quality, and overall team culture as primary drivers for their departures. For Sanders, who has faced an intense spotlight since his arrival in Boulder, the refusal to be provoked marks a calculated approach to managing the program’s public image during a critical transition period.
The friction highlights the volatility of the modern college football landscape, where the transfer portal allows players to seek “better fits” in real-time. In this instance, the departures of key personnel have provided a rare glimpse into the internal dynamics of the Colorado locker room and the specific areas where former players felt the program fell short compared to SEC and ACC powerhouses.
Comparing Cultures: Why Players Left Boulder
The critiques from former Buffaloes have focused largely on the “marginal gains”—the specific differences in nutrition, strength and conditioning, and technical coaching—that define elite collegiate football. Jordan Seaton, now at LSU, pointed to a stark contrast in how he approached his physical preparation after leaving Colorado.
“When I left Colorado, I experience like I was at a good point, but coming here, the transition from how I eat to how we work out here is just kind of different… Being here is really just different from how we train, to how we work, and the work’s extra around here,” Seaton said.
Similarly, Ryan Staub, who spent two seasons on Colorado’s offensive line before transferring to Tennessee, emphasized the “culture” of the SEC and the granular level of coaching he found elsewhere. Staub, who sat behind Shedeur Sanders and Kaidon Salter on the 2025 depth chart, noted that the specificity of the offensive instruction was a primary draw for his move.
“For me the biggest thing was just this culture, being in the SEC, and these coaches,” Staub said. “The coaches were the big recruiting point for me. Told me what I needed to work on, things I need to improve, and just the level of detail in this offense was kind of the big shining light for me.”
While Seaton and Staub focused on the “how” of the training, London Merritt focused on the “where.” After spending his freshman season on the Colorado defensive line, Merritt transferred to Clemson, citing a superior environment in terms of both coaching and infrastructure.
“It was just a lot better than where I was, facility-wise, coaching-wise,” Merritt said. “I feel like it was just a better option for me, and for me getting to take that step to the next level.”
A Challenging Timeline: Health and Transitions
The exodus of talent and the subsequent critiques occur against a backdrop of personal and professional volatility for Sanders. The 2025 season was a hard one for the Buffaloes, ending with a 4-8 record. Beyond the win-loss column, Sanders faced significant personal hurdles that impacted his availability.
Last offseason, Sanders was delayed in joining his team while battling serious health issues, which included a diagnosis of bladder cancer. This period of absence created a leadership vacuum at a time when the program was already struggling to maintain stability in the trenches—a fact reflected in the comments from departing offensive and defensive linemen.
To address these gaps, Sanders is leaning heavily into the transfer portal for the upcoming cycle. According to 247Sports, Colorado has assembled the No. 24 ranked transfer class in the nation. This influx of new talent is paired with a strategic overhaul of the coaching staff, including the hiring of new offensive and defensive coordinators intended to bring the “level of detail” that former players claimed was missing.
Summary of Key Departures and Destinations
| Player | Destination | Primary Reason Cited |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Seaton | LSU | Training and nutrition philosophy |
| Ryan Staub | Tennessee | SEC culture and offensive detail |
| London Merritt | Clemson | Coaching and facility quality |
What’s Next for the Buffaloes
The immediate focus for the program is no longer on those who left, but on those arriving. The integration of the new coordinators and the top-ranked transfer additions will be the primary storyline as the team moves into the spring. Sanders’ goal is to increase his own availability and presence on the field, ensuring that the “culture” he envisions is implemented consistently across all facets of the program.
The first public litmus test for this new iteration of the team arrives this Saturday. Colorado will host its annual spring game at Folsom Field, providing the first opportunity for fans and analysts to see how the new coordinators and recruits gel on the field.
Disclaimer: This article mentions medical diagnoses. For information regarding bladder cancer and related health resources, please consult official medical providers or the American Cancer Society.
The Buffaloes’ progress will be closely monitored as they attempt to pivot from a losing season toward a more sustainable model of success in the Big 12. We invite you to share your thoughts on the current state of the Colorado program in the comments below.
