Pac-12 Football

The Colorado Buffaloes, led by head coach Deion Sanders, will be playing a spring game that will be shown on the Pac-12 Network.

According to David Ubben of The Athletic, the game will take place on April 27 at 1 p.m. local time. Although the Buffaloes are set to join the Big 12 on July 1, they'll appear on the network of the conference they are currently a part of.

Rapper Lil Wayne is expected to perform at an event following the game, as he previously led the team onto the field before a matchup against Colorado State during the 2023 season (via Ubben).

Colorado's 2023 spring game aired on ESPN, although scheduling conflicts with coverage of the 2024 NFL draft resulted in a move to the Pac-12 Network. 47,277 fans showed up to see the first spring game under Sanders, marking the first time in program history that the contest was sold out (per the school's official website).

The 2024 spring game will likely draw another large crowd, as expectations will be heightened for the team. Although the Buffaloes finished with a 4-8 record in 2023, it represented a step up from the program's 1-11 finish in 2022.

Standout quarterback Shedeur Sanders will be returning after setting a school record with 3,230 passing yards, while Travis Hunter is also coming back after excelling as both a wide receiver and a cornerback in 2023.

While the Buffaloes haven't experienced much success in the 2024 recruiting cycle, they should still be better on the field due to the team compiling the No. 6 transfer class in the country (via 247Sports).

The spring game is shaping up to be more than just an on-field event, as the school is hosting a talent show on April 25 before a fundraising dinner is set to take place on April 26.

Shedeur Sanders is the most valuable player in college football in terms of NIL valuation, and he's not being shy about flaunting his wealth.

The Colorado quarterback showed off his new Tesla Cybertruck in a video for Well Off Media saying it was the first "Cyberbeast" model delivered in Colorado. The Cyberbeast is the most expensive version of the new Tesla model, coming in with a base price of $99,990.

Colorado went 4-8 and 1-8 in the Pac-12 last season, but that has not stopped Sanders from being one of the faces of college football. The son of Hall of Fame cornerback/Colorado coach Deion Sanders, Shedeur threw for 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns against three interceptions during his first year of FBS football after transferring from Jackson State.

NFL draft experts have pegged Sanders as a potential first-round pick in 2025, and On3 has given him an NIL valuation of $4.7 million. Only USC guard Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, has a higher valuation ($4.9 million).

Based on the Cybertruck and Shedeur's reaction to his new car, suffice it to say he's making the most—figuratively and literally—from his college experience.

While Washington State and Oregon State will watch the other 10 schools in the Pac-12 depart for different conferences this year, they will at least receive financial compensation in a settlement that was reportedly finalized Monday.

According to the Associated Press, the 10 departing schools finalized a settlement with Oregon State and Washington State that will pay the two remaining schools a total of $65 million in financial distributions.

That $65 million will come in multiple forms with each departing school having $5 million withheld during the 2024 fiscal year. What's more, those schools will pay an additional $1.5 million each as a "supplemental contribution" for the Cougars and Beavers as they look ahead toward the future.

Will Backus of CBS Sports noted the financial distributions will run through June with the departing schools set to join their new conferences in July.

Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington are joining the Big Ten, California and Stanford are joining the ACC, and Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are joining the Big 12. The various moves meant the end of the Pac-12 as fans have long known it and created plenty of uncertainty for Oregon State and Washington State.

Still, this settlement also means the other members cannot move to officially dissolve the Pac-12 without consent in writing from Oregon State and Washington State.

The departing schools will also not receive any revenue starting in 2025 and cannot vote on how the money generated from the additional distributions is used.

"We are pleased to finalize an agreement with OSU and WSU that provides support for all our student-athletes while ensuring an equal distribution of the vast majority of funds earned by all 12 schools during the 2023-24 academic year," the 10 departing schools said in a statement.

"Under this agreement, our schools will have the right to vote on matters that affect all 12 schools this year, while OSU and WSU will have control over future Conference revenue and decisions."

All the conference realignment left the Beavers and Cougars uncertain about their respective futures, although some clarity was provided in December when the West Coast Conference announced the addition of the two schools as affiliate members for two years starting with the 2024-25 academic year.

Both schools will compete in the WCC in men's basketball, women's basketball, women's soccer, volleyball, men's golf, women's golf, women's cross country and women's rowing, while Washington State will compete in women's tennis and men's cross country. Oregon State will compete in men's soccer and softball.

As for football, Backus noted the two schools entered a scheduling alliance with the Mountain West for at least the 2024 season. There is an option on that alliance to extend into the 2025 campaign if necessary.

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders once considered entering the 2024 NFL draft, but he recently revealed that his decision not to turn pro was largely due to his desire to be one of the top picks, and he knew that wouldn't happen in this year's talented draft class.

"I'm trying to be the first quarterback off the board. That's really what it is," Sanders told reporters during Colorado's spring press conference. "I respect Caleb [Williams]. I respect how he plays. He's a great player. But, overall, there's just different tiers of quarterbacks. There's guys that's special, there's guys that are good and guys that are OK, game managers. You've gotta understand what player you are and what category you fall in. I understood this year wasn't my year. I didn't have enough time at this level."

Sanders spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Jackson State, so the 2023 season was his first at a Power Five program. He transferred to Colorado when his father, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, was hired as head coach of the Buffaloes.

It didn't take long for Sanders to acclimate himself to a higher level of competition. He threw for a single-season program-record 3,230 yards with 27 touchdowns against just three interceptions while completing 69.3 percent of his passes, which also was the best mark in program history. He also added four rushing touchdowns while playing behind a Buffaloes offensive line that allowed 56 sacks last season, the second-highest total in the nation.

After being named AP Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year, Sanders undoubtedly would've been among the top quarterback prospects in this year's class. However, there is a bevy of talented quarterbacks besides Williams that he would be in the mix with like Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr.

The elder Sanders believes his son would've still had the chance to be a high pick, but he knows he wouldn't have been the first quarterback taken.

"So let's just get that straight. If Shedeur would've gone in the draft this year, he probably would have been the second [quarterback]," Deion Sanders said. "He wouldn't have been the first quarterback off the board. I think he had the ability but he probably would've been the second quarterback off the board."

Colorado began spring practices last week and will hold its spring game on April 27, which will give Sanders his first chance to show his offseason improvements.

USC landed a major commitment from one of the best defensive prospects in the nation.

Class of 2025 5-star defensive tackle Justus Terry flipped his commitment from Georgia to the Trojans on Sunday, per ESPN's Tom VanHaaren. Terry is ranked as the No. 2 defensive lineman and No. 8 overall player in 247Sports' composite.

Terry had been committed to the Bulldogs since January 2023 before flipping his commitment. VanHaaren noted that the hiring of defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn and defensive line coach Eric Henderson by USC head coach Lincoln Riley was a major factor in landing Terry, as "both coaches played a role" in getting him to flip.

A 6'5", 270-pound recruit out of Manchester (Georgia) High School, Terry was described as a "potential bully in the middle" who "should be viewed as a possible impact player for a College Football Playoff contender with his tools" by 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins. It was also noted that Terry has "NFL upside" and "could be molded into a variety of different things at the next level and already has experience setting up in a variety of alignments."

Riley has been focused on improving the defensive side of the ball after the Trojans ranked 119th in the nation with 432.8 yards allowed per game. The staff has signed 12 defensive prospects in the 2024 class and now landed a potential star in the 2025 class with Terry's commitment.

Terry is now USC's second 5-star 2025 recruit, joining quarterback Julian Lewis, who is ranked as the No. 2 signal-caller in the class.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders said there are certain teams his stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter won't play for.

Making an appearance on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast, Sanders said that he believes both players will go within the top four of next year's NFL draft, but depending on where they land, they could refuse to play.

"All this is subjective because I know where I kind of want them to go," Sanders said (58:55 mark). "And let's not forget Shilo (Sanders). But I know where I want them to go. There's certain cities where it ain't going to happen. ...It's going to be an Eli [Manning]."

Last season, Shedeur had 3,230 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Hunter, the two-way star for the Buffaloes, had 23 tackles and three interceptions as a cornerback while also collecting 721 receiving yards and five touchdowns as a wideout.

Sanders compared the two players' situation to Eli Manning, who infamously refused to play for the San Diego Chargers, who selected him first overall in 2004, and was traded to the New York Giants.

If Shedeur and Hunter get drafted to the wrong team, it seems there could be another bizarre situation in the 2025 NFL draft.

Sanders hasn't named any specific teams that he doesn't want his players playing for, but he previously mentioned that he doesn't want Shedeur playing in a cold location.

"Like, I don't want my kid going nowhere cold next year," Sanders said. "He grew up in Texas. He played in Jackson, played in Colorado. Season's over before it gets cold in Colorado. I'm just thinking way ahead. I don't want that for him."

While Shedeur ultimately decided to return to Colorado for another season, Sanders claimed that he would've been "a high draft pick" in the 2024 NFL draft.

"Shedeur – let's just get this straight. Let's get the elephant in the room. Shedeur would have been a high draft pick this year," Sanders said. "Let's just stop the foolishness and you get mad when I tell you."

Shedeur and Hunter certainly have the makings to be NFL draft picks next year, but the two will need to put up big numbers to meet Sanders' bold claim that they will both go within the top four.

Colorado is coming off a disappointing 4-8 season in Sanders' first year at the helm. The Buffaloes began the year with three impressive wins, but proceeded to go 1-8 the rest of the way. With Shedeur and Hunter returning, Colorado will be looking to put together a better year this season.

Deion Sanders is standing his ground when it comes to his recruiting approach.

After a USA Today report noted Sanders had made "zero home visits" to recruits since being hired by Colorado in 2022 Sanders responded and explained why he takes a more conservative approach to recruiting away from campus.

"My approach is totally different than many coaches," Sanders said, per David Ubben of The Athletic. "I'm a businessman, as well so I try to save our university money every dern chance I get. For me to go, let's say I go to Florida and I'm visiting IMG, you don't think those coaches are going to be a little upset if I don't come by the school down the street? You don't think it's going to be pandemonium, or I'm gonna get naysayed if I don't go another 45 minutes? Then if I go to that one, why didn't I come to that school? Now the coach is mad and he's not gonna let the kid come because I chose that school over that school.Other coaches, they can do that, but I can't."

He elaborated by saying that he had conducted a "personal survey" that allowed him to conclude that "parents don't want me in their house." Instead, he finds it more valuable to invest that time in showing players what Boulder and the University have to offer.

"They want to see how I live, how I get down, see what I got going on, what God has done in my life," Sanders said, per Ubben. "I know when I was in college I did not want Bobby Bowden in my house because I knew after 7 o'clock, there was going to be rats and roaches on parade."

This strategy has surely paid off in the recruiting rankings. The Buffaloes 2024 class has seven commits, including a five-star and three four-stars, per 247 Sports. The transfer portal class for 2024 is ranked No. 6 in the country and contains 25 total recruits and seven four-stars, per 247.

That's certainly solid for a team that went 1-11 in 2022 and 4-8 in 2023. The Buffaloes are also entering the Big 12 in 2024 and will be able to pursue a 2025 class with a more defined culture than the 2024 class as Sanders enters his second season with the program.

Deion Sanders might have to learn about the rules of a different kind of football for his grandson.

While talking with his daughter about her sonogram picture (starts at 5:55 mark), Sanders joked his grandson is going to be a soccer player.

The Colorado head coach also made a joke that the image said, "Not a football player" and "it says 'Pelé.'"

Deiondra Sanders, Deion's oldest child, announced last week on Instagram she was pregnant with her first child. Her father commented on the post:

"PREACH BABY PREACH, and u having this baby to make me a darn GRANDDADDY even though I'm YOUNG! I Love u baby and I'm glad u said u ain't having a baby to keep a man. You've always had a MAN in your life that u call DADDY & ain't gon ever ever let u DOWN especially when I'm UP."

This will be the first grandchild for Sanders. He has five children, with Deiondra and Deion Jr. being the oldest at 31 and 30, respectively. Shilo, Shedeur and Shelomi are currently student-athletes at the University of Colorado.

Shilo and Shedeur are on the football team coached by their father. Shelomi is a redshirt freshman on the Buffaloes women's basketball team.

In addition to his family expanding, Coach Prime is preparing for his second season with the Buffaloes. He went 4-8 in his first season that included three straight wins to open the year and three weeks in the AP Top 25 poll.

It was Colorado's first time being ranked in the top 25 since the 2020 season.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders hopes his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, is selected by a team located in a warm-weather city during the 2025 NFL Draft.

Sanders discussed weather's impact on players' careers during an appearance on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio with Chris Russo (h/t Mike Florio of NBC Sports.)

Shedeur played for Trinity Christian School in Cedar Hill, TX before arriving in the relatively mild climate of Boulder last season.

"Like, I don't want my kid going nowhere cold next year," Sanders said about Shedeur. "He grew up in Texas. He played in Jackson, played in Colorado. Season's over before it gets cold in Colorado. I'm just thinking way ahead. I don't want that for him."

The topic came up as the Colorado coach was discussing USC quarterback Caleb Williams, whom the Chicago Bears are projected to select with the No. 1 pick of the 2024 draft.

Sanders said he had "a problem" with Williams, who spent the past two seasons in the Los Angeles area, adjusting to playing professionally in the Windy City.

"A kid that's coming from California for the last couple years, right? And went to Oklahoma. That's not terribly cold. Chicago's cold, man," Sanders told Russo. "You gotta think about that kind of stuff when you're taking a young man."

"Like see, when you take a guy from Ohio State and you bring him to Chicago, okay, I could understand that. But from California to Chicago? Not only that, they added what? One or two more games in the NFL. Seventeen games. Come on, man. You gotta factor in that stuff. That stuff matters."

Fewer than half of the teams in the NFL are located in what could be considered cold-weather cities, Florio points out.

That qualification could still rule out several teams that could potentially draft high next season. Those include the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos, who play home games in what Marca ranks as two of the coldest stadiums in the league.

Depending on his 2024 college season, Sanders is projected by Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network to be a top-three pick of the 2025 draft. Although the Buffaloes went 4-8 in Big-12 play last season, Sanders recorded 3,230 passing yards for 27 touchdowns and three interceptions.

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 236

HAND: 9¼"

ARM: 32⅞"

WINGSPAN: 79⅝"

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40-YARD DASH: 4.56

3-CONE:

SHUTTLE:

VERTICAL: 39.5"

BROAD: 10'8"

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POSITIVES

— Decent weight for a modern linebacker and moves really well. Also has good arm length.

— Good movement skills, impressive speed, change of direction and agility, with loose hips to cover running backs in man coverage.

— Accelerates well to help click and close when playing zone coverage.

— Has a flexible and bendy lower body with good lateral movement to help work around blocks.

— Has plenty of speed to beat climbing offensive linemen to the spot and/or close on the running back when he does read run plays correctly or is blitzing.

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NEGATIVES

— Shaky instincts versus the run, especially versus zone runs. Slow to key and diagnose, will get caught in the trash, doesn't put himself in a good position to take on blocks and often looks like he's guessing where the ball is going.

— Struggles to hold ground in the running game and gets pushed out of his gap easily, even by good blocking tight ends.

— Doesn't get much extension despite his long arms and gets stuck on blocks.

— Lunges and leaves his feet to tackle.

— Subpar eye discipline in zone coverage. Likes to stare in the backfield and doesn't locate threats coming into his area well.

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2023 STATISTICS

— 15 G, 94 TOT, 8 TFL, 3 SK, 1 INT, 3 PD, 1 FF

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NOTES

— Born Jan. 23, 2000

— 0-star recruit in the 2018 class, per 247Sports

— Only had 2 FCS offers out of high school and walked on at Washington

— Injuries: Arm (2021, missed 6 games), Left Knee (2022, surgery, missed spring ball only played in 5 games and very few snaps)

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OVERALL

Edefuan Ulofoshio can be a good coverage linebacker in the NFL. He has impressive movement skills, as evidenced by his unofficial 9.54 RAS at the NFL combine. That shows in his ability to cover running backs and avoid getting picked in man coverage, and he can click in close when playing zone. He just needs to improve his eye discipline in the latter.

The running game is a different story, though. Ulofoshio's instincts are still a work in progress, as it often looks like he's guessing against zone runs. When he guesses right or is unblocked, he has impressive speed to make plays near the line of scrimmage, but he's wrong more often than not and lacks the strength to hold his ground when taking on blocks.

The Washington product even struggles with good blocking tight ends and will get stuck on blocks. Whichever team drafts him will have to spend some time in the weight room with him and be patient in this area of his game. It's also worth noting that he'll be an older rookie at 24 and suffered a couple of significant injuries in college.

Overall, Ulofoshio would be a good fit as a "Will" in even fronts for a team that's looking for an athletic linebacker who can contribute in coverage and on special teams.

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GRADE: 6.2 (High-Level Developmental Prospect — 5th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 144

POSITION RANK: LB8

PRO COMPARISON: Shades of Jerome Baker

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

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