Deion Sanders is telling everyone who will listen. If not about his Louis Vuitton luggage, which the coach referenced in his first team meeting at Colorado to confer that he’d be bringing high-level players with him to Boulder, he’s doing so in more direct ways.
“We already know what we got coming in,” Sanders said during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” in April. “Y’all just don’t know what we got coming.”
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Most of the attention in the days after spring practice ended fell on the waves of Buffaloes transferring out of the program. But determining the transfer portal players Sanders does have coming in isn’t all that difficult in the era of social media and recruiting sites that cover programs’ every move and offer.
Read more: Deion Sanders’ extreme Colorado makeover has coaches buzzing: ‘It’s a tremendous risk’
Only 12 scholarship players from last year’s team are left on the roster, which left Sanders to go about finding the rest of his team. And using allegories.
“There’s no way that I can put new furniture in this beautiful home if we don’t clean out the old furniture,” Sanders said.
He later teased that the list of new players is coming “very soon.” Two months later, Colorado’s incoming transfer class now sits at 47 members. The Buffs are back up to 80 scholarship players on board for the 2023 season.
Coach Prime is too funny 😂😂
(Via: Deionsanders/IG) pic.twitter.com/Az5X2ObTqB
— Barstool Colorado (@CUBarstool) April 27, 2023
“When we release the list of guys that we already got coming in, then everybody is going to say, ‘OK, now I see what he’s doing.'” Sanders said.
But who has already arrived and who is on the way? Here’s a closer look at just what Sanders is packing in his Louis luggage to Boulder.
Note: Updated as of June 26, 8 a.m. ET. All rankings are per the 247Sports Composite.
Incoming transfers (47)
Offense
QB Shedeur Sanders (Jackson State)
Four-star (247th), 2021; Years left: 2
2022: 344-of-488 passing (70.5 percent), 3,752 passing yards, 174 rushing yards, 46 total TDs, 6 INTs
Sanders, the son of coach Deion Sanders, was introduced as the starting quarterback at his father’s introductory news conference. The SWAC Offensive Player of the Year quickly followed him from Jackson State. He was committed to FAU out of high school but flipped to Jackson State after his father was initially hired. This is his third offense in three seasons.
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RB Alton McCaskill IV (Houston)
Three-star (406th overall), 2021; Years left: 3
2021: 961 rushing yards, 113 receiving yards, 18 total TDs
McCaskill is coming back from a torn ACL suffered last spring that forced him to miss the season, but he did earn AAC Rookie of the Year and Freshman All-America honors in 2021.
RB Kavosiey Smoke (Kentucky)
Three-star (711), 2018; Years left: 1
2022: 277 rushing yards, 30 receiving yards, 1 TD
Smoke shared the backfield with Chris Rodriguez for each of the past four seasons in Lexington. His 1,583 career yards falls just outside the top 20 all-time for Wildcats. Smoke stepped up last season when Rodriguez was sidelined with a four-game suspension.
RB Sy’Veon Wilkerson (Jackson State)
NR, 2020; Years left: 2
2022: 1,152 rushing yards, 160 receiving yards, 10 total TDs
Wilkerson spent two years at Delaware State, briefly joined West Virginia as a walk-on last spring and then ended up at Jackson State, where he emerged as the leading rusher in 2022.
WR Javon Antonio (Northwestern State)
Two-star (JC), 2018; Years left: 1
2022: 64 catches, 684 yards, 6 TDs
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound FCS transfer twice earned All-Southland recognition and had five 100-yard games for the Demons.
WR Tar’Varish Dawson Jr. (Auburn)
Four-star (351), 2021; Years left: 3
2022: 2 catches, 30 yards
Dawson was Auburn’s starting slot receiver to open the 2022 season but fell out of the rotation and opted to transfer. He committed to Cincinnati in April before flipping to Colorado.
WR Jaylen Ellis (Baylor)
Three-star (457), 2019; Years left: 2
2022: 3 catches, 154 yards, 1 TD
Ellis is seeking more opportunities after catching just six passes during his four years in Waco. Colorado managed to flip him after he was briefly committed to West Virginia.
WR Willie Gaines (Jackson State)
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Three-star (1,746), 2019; Years left: 2
2022: 27 catches, 446 yards, 5 TDs
The speedy Gaines also returned punts last year and will reconnect with his coach and quarterback after leading the Tigers in yards per reception a season ago. He also had offers from Maine and Liberty.
WR Jimmy Horn Jr. (USF)
Three-star (863), 2021; Years left: 2
2022: 37 catches, 551 yards, 5 total TDs
Horn ranked second on the Bulls in receiving yards and receptions in each of the past two seasons and was also a dynamic return man. He should be a major contributor but sat out the spring game with an injury.
WR Xavier Weaver (USF)
Three-star (1902), 2019; Years left: 1
2022: 53 catches, 718 yards, 6 TDs
Weaver is fourth all-time at USF in career receiving yards with 1,756 and followed his teammate Horn from Tampa to Boulder after Horn enrolled for the spring semester. Weaver earned second-team All-AAC honors last year and picked up 16 offers after entering the portal.
OL Jack Bailey (Kent State)
Two-star (2,779), 2019; Years left: 2
2022: 12 starts, 880 snaps at LG
Bailey followed Lewis and offensive line coach Bill O’Boyle from Kent State, where he started the past 18 games after becoming the starter midway through 2021. He mostly played guard and gave up just one sack in that span.
OL Landon Bebee (Missouri State)
NR, 2018; Years left: 1
2022: 11 starts, 698 snaps at LT
Bebee spent two seasons as the starter at left tackle for Bobby Petrino in Springfield and was a team captain in each of the past two years. He was a three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference honoree.
OL Tyler Brown (Jackson State)
Two-star (2,776), 2019; Years left: 2
2022: 13 starts, 905 snaps at LG
The Jackson, Miss., native played in 11 games over three seasons at Louisiana before transferring and starting all 13 games for the Tigers in 2022, earning third-team FCS All-America and first-team All-SWAC honors.
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OL David Conner (Florida)
3-star (1,023), 2022; Years left: 4
2022: Redshirted
The Buffs get a young lineman they can develop, a 6-foot-5, 295-pound freshman tackle from Atlanta who left Florida in April.
OL Savion Washington (Kent State)
Three-star (2,359), 2020; Years left: 3
2022: 11 starts, 789 snaps at RT
The 6-foot-8, 320-pound senior followed Sean Lewis from Kent State, where Lewis left his head coaching job to become Colorado’s offensive coordinator. He was a one-year starter for the Golden Flashes and already has his degree.
OL Reggie Young (Liberty)
Three-star (JC), 2018; Years left: 1
2022: 0 starts, 136 snaps at RT
Veteran lineman who moved up from FCS to junior college to FBS and had offers from San Diego State, App State, Old Dominion and Temple.
Defense
DL Taijh Alston (West Virginia)
Three-star (junior college), 2017; Years left: 1
2022: 18 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
Alston had his best season in 2021 when he put up 11 tackles for loss, five sacks and 37 total tackles, but his playing time diminished a bit in 2022 and his production dipped as a result.
DL Shane Cokes (Dartmouth)
NR, 2019; Years left: 2
2022: 53 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks
Cokes transferred up after landing on the All-Ivy League second team in each of the past two seasons. He also had offers from Oklahoma State, Miami, NC State and West Virginia after entering the portal.
DL Jordan Domineck (Arkansas)
Three-star (1,255), 2018; Years left: 1
2022: 34 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
Domineck spent last year at Arkansas after spending his first three seasons at Georgia Tech. He nearly transferred to Jackson State last year but led all but one Razorback in tackles for loss in his lone season.
DL Deeve Harris (Old Dominion)
Three-star (817), 2019; Years left: 2
2022: 33 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT
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Harris transferred from Minnesota to Old Dominion and developed into a productive edge defender who scored three defensive touchdowns in two seasons.
DL JJ Hawkins (Ole Miss)
Three-star (755), 2021; Years left: 3
2022: 1 sack
Hawkins played 25 snaps for the Rebels’ defensive line during his redshirt freshman season.
DL Chance Main (Colorado)
NR, 2017; Years left: 1
2022: 27 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 0.5 sacks, 1 PBU
Main believed he had exhausted his eligibility and thus was not enrolled in school this spring, but the senior got a waiver for one more season.
DL Khairi Manns (Maine)
NR, 2019; Years left: 2
2022: 43 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 4 sacks, 1 FF
Productive pass rusher who started 15 games over the past three seasons and chose Colorado over Kansas.
DL Derrick McLendon II (Florida State)
Three-star (476), 2019; Years left: 2
2022: 37 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks
McLendon broke out for the Seminoles last season and started all 12 games in a breakthrough year for FSU. The 6-foot-4, 245-pounder should be a force on the edge and is one of the most accomplished transfers to announce his plans to come to Boulder.
Derrick McLendon II is one of the highlights of the incoming class. (Melina Myers / USA Today)DL Amari McNeill (Tennessee)
Three-star (784), 2021; Years left: 3
2022: 3 tackles
McNeill played 89 snaps for the Vols in a reserve role last season and committed after his spring game visit.
DL Leonard Payne Jr. (Fresno State)
Two-star (3,393), 2018; Years left: 1
2022: 10 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2 sacks
Veteran defensive tackle who has recorded a total of 10.5 tackles for loss in a reserve role over the past two seasons and chose Colorado over multiple Power 5 offers.
DL Sav’ell Smalls (Washington)
Five-star (30), 2020; Years left: 2
2022: 14 tackles, 1 TFL
Big-time recruit who couldn’t break into the starting lineup as an edge rusher during his three seasons with the Huskies.
DL Bishop Thomas (Florida State)
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Three-star (483), 2022; Years left: 4
2022: Appeared in two games, redshirted
The 6-foot-2, 290-pound freshman was Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year for the Seminoles last season.
DL Arden Walker (Missouri)
Three-star (592), 2021; Years left: 3
2022: 6 tackles, 1.5 TFLs
Walker showed good potential as a redshirt freshman, playing 152 snaps and earning two starts late in the season.
DL Chazz Wallace (Old Dominion)
Three-star (2,166), 2019; Years left: 2
2022: 45 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2.5 sacks
Defensive tackle who brings solid experience and earned more than a dozen offers after entering the transfer portal. He locked in his commitment following the spring game.
LB LaVonta Bentley (Clemson)
Four-star (286th overall), 2019; Years left: 2
2022: 21 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 sack
Bentley was one of the first Buffs to earn a number this spring. He was a career backup at Clemson who played 417 snaps over four seasons.
LB Jeremiah Brown (Jackson State)
Three-star (1,703), 2021; Years left: 2
2022: 47 tackles, 10 TFLs, 6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
Brown’s production spiked after moving to edge rusher as a sophomore for the Tigers last season. He had just six tackles as a freshman but found a better fit outside.
LB Brendan Gant (Florida State)
Four-star (117), 2019; Years left: 1
2022: 33 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 PBU
Experienced linebacker/safety who has played in 43 career games and was one of Florida State’s team MVPs on special teams. He joined teammate Derrick McLendon in committing to the Buffaloes on Wednesday.
LB Demouy Kennedy (Alabama)
Four-star (39), 2020; Years left: 3
2022: 1 tackle
The former top-50 recruit mostly played on special teams during his three seasons with the Crimson Tide.
CB Kyndrich Breedlove (Ole Miss)
Three-star (413), 2021; Years left: 3
2022: Appeared in one game, redshirted
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Breedlove appeared in nine games as a freshman and made one tackle, but that playing time diminished in 2022. He initially entered the portal in December, withdrew and then re-entered in December before committing to Colorado.
CB Omarion Cooper (Florida State)
Four-star (289), 2021; Years left: 2
2022: 14 tackles, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble
Cooper got on the field right away for the Seminoles and has played in 20 games with seven starts over the past two seasons. The 6-foot, 188-pound corner was Florida State’s Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2021.
CB/WR Travis Hunter (Jackson State)
Five-star (1), 2022; Years left: 3
2022: 20 tackles, 10 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, 18 catches, 188 yards, 4 TDs
Hunter played in just eight games last season as he was hampered by an ankle injury, but he’s already shown flashes of being special and starred in last week’s spring game, catching a touchdown on the opening drive. Sanders said earlier this month Hunter is better than he was at his age.
CB Jahquez Robinson (Alabama)
Four-star (296), 2020; Years left: 3
2022: 2 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack
Robinson is looking for more playing time after seeing 27 snaps on defense in his third year with the Crimson Tide. He committed after visiting for the spring game.
S Travis Jay (Florida State)
Four-star (143), 2019; Years left: 2
2022: Did not appear in a game
The 6-foot-2, 198-pound defensive back played in 16 games with three career starts during his time in Tallahassee but was on scout team last season.
S Shilo Sanders (Jackson State)
Three-star (753), 2019; Years left: 2
2022: 20 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT, 4 PBUs
The head coach’s son didn’t participate in spring practice but joined the program this summer after graduating from Jackson State.
S Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig (Jackson State)
Three-star (1,990), 2021; Years left: 2
2022: 63 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2 INTs, 1.5 sacks
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Silmon-Craig earned first-team All-SWAC honors after starring for the Tigers last season. This isn’t the first time he followed Sanders. He also played for him in high school at Trinity Christian in Dallas.
S Myles Slusher (Arkansas)
Four-star (172), 2020; Years left: 2
2022: 28 tackles, 5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 PBU
A valuable starter at nickel for the Razorbacks, Slusher missed two games with a head injury, two more with a calf injury and was suspended for one game after an arrest following Arkansas’ loss to Liberty. He left the team late in the year. He initially committed to Louisville after entering the portal but flipped to the Buffs in January.
S Vito Tisdale (Kentucky)
Three-star (473), 2020; Years left: 3
2021: 21 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1 PBU
Started two games for the Wildcats in 2021 but suffered a torn ACL last year and was dismissed from the program in April for a violation of team rules.
S Rodrick Ward (Southern Utah)
NR (JC), 2018; Years left: 1
2022: 52 tackles, 1 sack, 4 INTs, 11 PBU
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound grad transfer from the FCS ranks earned first-team All-WAC honors and chose the Buffs over Cincinnati and Bowling Green.
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Special teams
K Jace Feely (Arizona State)
NR, 2021; Years left: 3
2022: 4 kickoffs, 1 punt, 1 of 1 extra points
Feely is the son of legendary NFL kicker and current broadcaster Jay Feely and can serve as kickoff specialist, place kicker or punter. He did all three in high school.
K Alejandro Mata (Jackson State)
NR, 2022; Years left: 3
2022: 12 of 13 field goals, 50 of 51 extra points
Mata earned second-team All-SWAC honors as a true freshman. Both of his missed kicks were blocked. He also had two kicks blocked in Colorado’s spring game.
Three-star (2,016), 2021; Years left: 2
2022: 52 punts, 44.6 yards per punt
Vassett, a two-year starter from Australia, set a new school record for punting average last season at Louisville and had a long of 68 yards.
(Photo of Shedeur Sanders: Andy Cross / MediaNews Group / The Denver Post via Getty Images)
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