Deion Sanders

Deion Sanders says NFL teams shouldn't consider drafting reigning Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter this spring unless they are willing to play him at both wide receiver and cornerback.

"Travis could definitely do that." Sanders told Rich Eisen on Friday about Hunter playing two positions in the NFL (3:12 mark of the video below.) "I mean, he's gonna do that, or they shouldn't draft him. Don't do that.

"And I'm going to make sure of that. Don't draft him if you're not going to give him an opportunity to play on both sides of the ball."

Sanders continued: "Now, you can be creative, he don't have to do what we did with him here, and play every snap. But, just say he's starting the corner, he's going to have to be on your nickel packages, or your spread packages on the offense.

"Because he's going to be probably your best receiver, and you're going to look like an idiot with your best receiver sitting on the bench, and you can't get open, you can't get the ball down the field. Or vice versa. Your best corner isn't on the field, and they're bombing you right now, and he's on the sideline with you."

Hunter claimed the Heisman Trophy as the best player in college football after playing 84 percent of Colorado's snaps last season.

He took 669 snaps on defense and 687 on offense, in total taking more than 400 snaps more than the next closest FBS player.

Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported earlier this week that he had asked 13 head coaches and general managers where they believed Hunter would play in the NFL.

Out of those surveyed, 12 expected him to primarily work as a defender while making some contributions on offense, according to Glazer.

"They all said, even though we'd start him at cornerback, we'd definitely find packages we'd play for him on the offensive side of the ball," Glazer said.

Yesterday for #FOXNFLSunday @NFLonFOX, I polled 13 head coaches and GMs where they’d play Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, 12 of 13 said cornerback with packages on offense, one added would try him at punt returner too. The one who said WR cited elite ball skills. The ones… pic.twitter.com/woh317o7hX

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) December 16, 2024

Sanders primarily played as a defensive back during his own 14-season NFL career. His best campaign as a two-way player came during the 1996 season for the Dallas Cowboys, during which he made 33 tackles while also recording 36 receptions.

It sounds like Sanders is hoping Hunter will find a similar path to success on both sides of the ball after the Buffaloes' two-way star enters the upcoming NFL draft as a potential No. 1 pick this April.

The Dallas Cowboys have long been known as "America's Team," and now they will be under the spotlight in a new documentary series.

Netflix announced on Thursday that America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys is coming in 2025 and gave fans a first look at the docuseries with a new trailer featuring Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and legends like Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Jimmy Johnson and many more:

"America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys is the definitive story of The Dallas Cowboys and Jerry Jones' impact on NFL history," Netflix's logline stated in a release. "What began as a daring purchase led to the assembly of the iconic '90s football team – a decade-plus journey, led by Jones' intrepid business moves, that revolutionized global sports and resulted in three NFL titles. Through first-hand interviews and never-before-seen footage, this series unravels the dramatic twists and turns on the road to the Cowboys becoming the most valuable sports franchise in the world."

The Cowboys docuseries is being helmed by Emmy Award-winning directors Chapman and Maclain Way, who previously directed Netflix documentaries like Untold, Wild Wild Country and Kings of Tupelo.

In addition to interviews with Jones and the star players and coaches who helped lead Dallas to three Super Bowl titles in the 1990s, other political and pop culture figures will also be featured in the series such as President George W. Bush, Nike founder Phil Knight and media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

The Cowboys have struggled to recapture the success of their 1990s run, but that hasn't hurt their popularity. Dallas is home to some of the biggest stars in the NFL today like quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and edge rusher Micah Parsons. The team currently has a 6-8 record entering its matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football.

Fans will certainly enjoy getting an in-depth look at the evolution of the Cowboys under Jones as they established themselves as "America's Team."

Deion Sanders apparently has at least some information on what the New York Giants' plans are for the 2025 NFL draft.

Appearing on The Pacman Jones Show, Coach Prime said he knows "for a fact" the Giants won't trade the No. 1 overall pick if they get it and he expects his son, Shedeur, will be taken with that selection.

Deion Sanders says here that #Giants "are not giving up that (No. 1) pick. I know that for a fact."

And "Shedeur is going to be the No. 1 pick."

Sounds like he fully expects his son to be next Giants QB if they lose out. https://t.co/cLAJu30XTN

— Ryan Dunleavy (@rydunleavy) December 18, 2024

The Giants may not even have their current head coach and/or general manager by the time the draft rolls around, so the idea that Sanders would know what their plans are if they get the No. 1 pick seems like a stretch.

Another problem is the Giants may not even get the top pick even if they lose out. They are tied with the Las Vegas Raiders for the worst record in the NFL, with the Raiders currently in position to get the first pick using opponent strength of schedule.

Things can certainly change over the final three weeks of the regular season. The Raiders are unlikely to be favored in any of their remaining games, but their Week 16 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars is a winnable game.

The Giants will be taking on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in the first start of Michael Penix Jr.'s NFL career. They also have a matchup with the always-volatile Indianapolis Colts in Week 17, followed by a season-closing game against a Philadelphia Eagles team that might be resting all of their good players if their playoff position is locked in.

Whether it's the Raiders or Giants who gets the No. 1 pick, it seems unlikely either one would try to trade it. Both franchises are desperate to find a quarterback who can provide hope for their future.

The next step will be for that team to determine who the top quarterback in the class is. Sanders and Cam Ward are widely considered the top two signal-callers, with B/R's NFL scouting department ranking the Miami star one spot ahead of Sanders in its most recent big board.

Sanders is the bigger name of the two, but Ward finished higher in the 2024 Heisman voting after throwing an FBS-high 36 touchdown passes.

Even though Deion Sanders has insisted he's committed to being Colorado's head coach, NFL teams aren't giving up on the possibility he might change his mind.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, it wouldn't be a surprise if some team looking for a new head coach at least reaches out to Sanders' camp to gauge his interest.

"I think [NFL] teams will want to hear what he has to say," one source told Fowler.

Sanders' name continues to pop up as the NFL regular season nears its conclusion and coaches on the hot seat will learn their fate.

Despite the frequent rumors about him being on the radar for pro teams, Sanders said Tuesday on The Pacman Jones Show (h/t Mike McDaniel of SI.com) he has no intention of leaving right now.

"I love Boulder, Colorado," Sanders said. "I have every intention, every plan in the world to be coaching for the Colorado Buffs from here on. I want to finish here. I want to put the flag. I want my name on the mountains out there. I want to put my flag down in Colorado."

It's worth pointing out Coach Prime was saying the same thing while at Jackson State, two months before he left to take the Colorado job.

There has been speculation that Deion could make the move to the NFL if he had the chance to coach his son, Shedeur, who is expected to be one of the top players selected in the 2025 draft.

Could Shedeur Sanders and Deion Sanders team up again next year.

pic.twitter.com/lUU9BJHRVg

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 14, 2024

Based on the current draft order, the Las Vegas Raiders own the No. 1 pick. Antonio Pierce's status as their head coach has gotten to the point he's being asked about it during press conferences.

It wouldn't be a surprise if a team like the Raiders, which is struggling for relevancy in an AFC West that already has Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, Jim Harbaugh and Sean Payton, wanted to make a big splash by hiring Deion and drafting Shedeur.

Another popular landing spot for Sanders would be the Dallas Cowboys, but Jerry Jones continues to speak about Mike McCarthy in a way that suggests he could be back in 2025.

Jerry Jones to @1053thefan on Mike McCarthy: “I don’t know how you cannot say that his team has shown they’ll handle adversity & he can get you there with the injury situation impacting…availability.”

On McCarthy & Mike Zimmer: “So yeah, I give them both high grades this year.”

— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) December 17, 2024

The Chicago Bears, New York Jets and New Orleans Saints made in-season moves to fire their head coaches. Other potential openings after this season could include the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Giants are another team that could be in position to draft Shedeur. They would pick second in the draft if the season ended today.

Until all of the NFL coaching vacancies have been filled, Sanders will continue to be mentioned as a potential candidate because he's the biggest name available and has had success everywhere he's coached at the college level.

Colorado football head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is bullish on Bill Belichick's chances to excel with UNC, so much so that he thinks it'll be easier for the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach to find success in Chapel Hill than he did with the New England Patriots.

Sanders made his remarks on the Pacman Jones Show (h/t TMZ Sports).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GOyre_RpVY

"Bill Belichick is Bill Belichick," he said.

"The track record stands alone. No one in the NFL has accomplished what he's accomplished. Making that translate to college football, I feel like that's an easier role to come to college football and have success than it is to rekindle that fire he had in New England."

Sanders also made clear that he's a friend of Belichick.

"I love Coach Belichick, man," Sanders added. "I'm a fan and not only that, I like to be known as a friend of Coach Belichick. I love what he's doing, I'm happy about it."

Sanders has found his own success at Colorado, turning a 1-11 program the year before his arrival into a 9-3 team that's 20th in the Associated Press poll.

Belichick, of course, also found great success in the NFL, winning two Super Bowls as the New York Giants' defensive coordinator in 1986 and 1990 before adding six more as the Patriots' head coach (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018).

After a year away from coaching, Belichick is embarking on a brand-new challenge. He's joining UNC on a five-year deal ($10 million per season). It's a stark transition for someone who coached in the NFL ranks in various capacities from 1975-2023.

Belichick did grow up watching his father, Steve Belichick, coach and scout at Navy for nearly his entire childhood. The elder Belichick also coached at UNC from 1953-1955.

Now his son is back there seven decades later, hoping to become the fourth head coach in football history to win an NCAA championship and Super Bowl alongside Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer and Pete Carroll.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders told reporters on Tuesday that he realized Travis Hunter had a Heisman Trophy in his future from his very first practice three years ago at Jackson State.

"When he went out there at receiver and did his thing, then went from receiver to defensive back and shut it down. I knew right then it was something special," he said (4:20 mark). "It's one thing to watch highlights of a young man in high school, it's another to see it in person. And when you know the game, you know athleticism, you know what I know, you come where I come from—you know when you see something that is abnormal. This kid, from day one, has been abnormal with an appetite to dominate."

Hunter's 2024 season has been the stuff of legends—92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense and 31 tackles, four interceptions, 11 passes defensed and one forced fumble on defense.

Almost every conceivable award followed, with Hunter earning the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award (college player of the year), Biletnikoff Award (best receiver) and the Bednarik Award (best defensive player).

"He will likely be the first non-QB selected."@PSchrags reacts to Travis Hunter winning the Heisman, and has the latest on Maxx Crosby. pic.twitter.com/NoeVK1WzSZ

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 15, 2024

More importantly, Colorado went from 4-8 in Sanders' first year as the head coach in 2023 to a 9-3 record this season, the No. 20 ranking to close the year and a berth in the Alamo Bowl against BYU on Saturday, Dec. 28.

Yes, the Buffaloes blew the chance to reach the Big 12 Championship Game—which would have given them a chance at the College Football Playoff—by losing to Kansas on Nov. 23. But the 2024 season was nonetheless a resounding success.

As for Hunter's personal success, he attributed a ton of it to the coaching of Sanders and the quarterback play of Shedeur Sanders.

"Coach Prime, Shedeur, y'all changed my life forever," he said during his Heisman speech.

"Coach Prime told me this journey would be bigger than anything before," he added. "He believed in me, not just as a player but as a person."

That faith was more than rewarded.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide defensive tackle Jehiem Oatis has committed to Colorado and head coach Deion Sanders, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

Former Alabama junior DT Jehiem Oatis has committed to Colorado, he tells ESPN. He’s the No. 1 defensive player in ESPN’s Transfer Portal rankings and the No. 5 overall player. Oatis started 13 games during his first two years at Alabama and is a former Top 40 recruit. pic.twitter.com/55163wVuT2

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 17, 2024

Oatis was the top overall defensive lineman in the in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports.

The junior transfer started 13 games for the Crimson Tide during his first two years. He recorded 57 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and five passes defended.

Oatis played in just four games for Alabama this season before opting to redshirt and not participate in the remainder of the season, per Thamel. He recorded two tackles and one pass defended.

Oatis has said that playing time was a big reason for his decision to part ways with the Alabama program, per Thamel.

"He's been battling injuries, not been able to perform or produce in the way that any of us would like," Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said back in October, per Tide Illustrated's Jack Knowlton. "But my focus is on the players that are going to do everything they can to help us win football games. So that's really where my focus is right now."

Oatis did not appear in Alabama's 40-25 loss against Vanderbilt on Oct. 5, solidifying his decision. Head coach Kalen DeBoer expressed that he was not surprised by the choice, according to Knowlton.

"Jaheim, it felt like it was going that way," DeBoer said, per Knowlton. "I think you also have to understand there's other elements to this. There's health elements, there's life elements. I love these guys, they work hard and Jaheim's choices, there's reasons for that. He has notified and continued to be in communication here with us. Kinda felt like it was maybe going in that direction, not just today or yesterday but just here in the last few days. We move forward with the guys that really are able to help us win and focused on our program."

The Crimson Tide stand at 9-3 ahead of their bowl game against the Michigan Wolverines. Despite being a highly touted team, Alabama failed to make the 12-team playoffs.

Colorado linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green is planning to enter the transfer portal, according to Pete Nakos of On3.com.

Hill-Green initially transferred to Colorado after spending the 2023 season with Charlotte, earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors in his lone year with head coach Deion Sanders' program.

He was a key member of a Buffaloes defense that made improvements across the board from 2023 to 2024, helping the team progress from 4-8 to 9-3.

In 12 appearances, Hill-Green racked up 82 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions.

WHAT A PICK BY HILL-GREEN 🤯@CUBuffsFootball pic.twitter.com/pIPtB9D0rq

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 10, 2024

Dealing with losses in the transfer portal isn't new for Sanders, as the team underwent roster turnover ahead of his first season in 2023 as well as the 2024 offseason. Portal additions such as Hill-Green have been key to the Buffaloes' turnaround this year, and Coach Prime doesn't appear to be worried about navigating through an eventful offseason again.

To many of the Portal Young Men that’s looking & searching for the right situation. You’re gonna get vetted thoroughly by us and then I pray u know the difference of being offered a bag & being offered a BLESSING. Ask Grandma-nem what I mean. #CoachPrime “I Ain’t Hard 2 Find”.

— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) December 9, 2024

Colorado also received some good news on Monday, as linebacker Jeremiah Brown chose to withdraw from the transfer portal and return to the school in 2025 (via Nakos). Brown has tallied 17 tackles and a pass defensed in 16 appearances over the past two seasons and could be in line for a larger role following Hill-Green's departure.

The Buffaloes will likely look vastly different in 2025, as quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter are both expected to hear their names called in the NFL draft.

In order for Colorado to remain a contender in its second season as a member of the Big 12, continuing to improve on the defensive side of the ball will be crucial.

The Buffaloes have allowed 353.7 yards per game in 2024, the eighth-highest mark in the conference.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is reportedly set to host one of the best players in the transfer portal for a visit.

Per ESPN's Pete Thamel, former Alabama defensive tackle Jehiem Oatis is in Boulder on Monday to visit with Sanders and the Buffaloes. Thamel ranks him as the No. 1 defensive player in the transfer portal.

Jehiem Oatis with a message to all defensive players in the Portal👀🦬 pic.twitter.com/C4bepowPmc

— GUCCE🦬🐦‍⬛ (@gucceCU) December 17, 2024

In October, Oatis opted to redshirt the 2024 season and enter the transfer portal at the end of the year. After starting 13 games over his first two years with the Crimson Tide, his playing time decreased significantly under new head coach Kalen DeBoer, and he cited that as a reason for his decision to transfer.

"Getting the reps and looks that I'm getting, I feel like it's better for me to move on somewhere new," Oatis told Thamel at the time.

Oatis underwent three offseason surgeries on his shoulder, knee and ankle, but he's been healthy since the end of training camp. Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said during a news conference in October that injuries had hindered Oatis and he had "not been able to perform or produce the way that any of us would like."

Oatis was a 4-star recruit and the No. 12 defensive lineman in the class of 2022 in 247Sports' composite. He has career numbers of 57 total tackles, five passes defended and 1.5 sacks.

Colorado is set to look different next year with the impending departures of quarterback Shedeur Sanders and 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Coach Prime will surely be looking to add star power through the transfer portal, so Oatis would be an instant impact player if he lands with the Buffaloes.

Troy Aikman got a firsthand look at how successful a Sanders can be in the NFL, and he believes Shedeur Sanders will follow in his father's footsteps and thrive at the next level.

"I do think he's a franchise quarterback," the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current Fox broadcaster told TMZ Sports when discussing the Colorado signal-caller. "I love his game. I've obviously been watching him for a number of years, I know his father intimately well. What Shedeur's been able to do is remarkable."

He added that he believes Sanders is "going to have a hell of a career" in the NFL.

Aikman and Deion Sanders were teammates with the Cowboys for five seasons from 1995-99 and won a Super Bowl together during the 1995 campaign. It was Aikman's third Lombardi Trophy and Sanders' second.

The older Sanders is now the head coach of Colorado, and the Buffaloes improved from 4-8 in his first season to 9-3 in his second in large part because of his son at quarterback.

Shedeur Sanders completed 74.2 percent of his passes for 3,926 yards, 35 touchdowns and eight interceptions and finished in eighth place in Heisman voting. His teammate, Travis Hunter, took home the coveted award after an excellent season as both a wide receiver and cornerback.

Both are surely eyeing the next level at this point, and B/R's NFL Scouting Department listed Sanders as the No. 9 overall player and No. 2 quarterback behind Miami's Cam Ward in its latest big board of NFL draft prospects.

Sanders is also listed as the most-accurate passer and most pro-ready quarterback.

It is likely only a matter of time before Aikman is calling his games from the broadcasting booth, and the former Cowboys signal-caller has big expectations for the younger Sanders.