Colorado Players Say Recruiters Used Racial Stereotypes To Recruit Against Deion Sanders

University of Colorado players say rival coaches used racial stereotypes when trying to recruit players away from coach Deion Sanders

University of Colorado recruits and transfer players said coaches of rival schools negatively recruited against Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, employing racial stereotypes as they did so.

After a season that went off the rails once conference play began, the Colorado Buffaloes have put together one of the school’s best recruiting classes in recent years, with the nation’s 21st-ranked combined class and top transfer class.

Sports Illustrated reports that IMG Academy’s Jordan Seaton, now Colorado’s highest-rated offensive lineman, spoke during the media day for Under Armour’s All-America High School Football Game. According to Seaton, some coaches were negatively recruiting against Sanders, asking Seaton if he was going to Colorado to be a rapper.

Since Seaton told his story, other Colorado recruits have also gone public about the negative things coaches and recruits said about playing for the NFL Hall of Famer.

“It was crazy stereotypical terms that were pretty alarming,” UTEP transfer Justin Mayers told DNVR last week. “You know, ‘Kool-Aid’… ‘Being a rapper’… or just ‘That gang’ over there. Just all types of negative connotations that shed a bad light on the college football world.”

Linebacker Nikhil Webb Walker, who transferred from New Mexico State, said he’d been deciding between Oregon State University and Colorado but was turned off from Oregon State after a coach spoke negatively of Coach Prime.

In his first season as the Buffaloes’ head coach, Sanders started hot with wins against TCU, Nebraska, and in-state rival Colorado State as celebrities attended games. Colorado received more exposure than it had in decades. However, things turned once Colorado began conference play in the Pac-12 and the team’s inexperienced offensive and defensive lines were exposed. The Buffaloes finished the season 4-8, including 1-8 in conference play.

Colorado will begin its 2024 campaign with its Black and Gold spring game April 27, and its 2024 regular season against North Dakota State on Aug. 31.