Colorado’s returning players are taking Deion Sanders up on his offer … to leave.
The Colorado football head coach saw 18 of his players enter the transfer portal on Monday, including 17 scholarship athletes, The Athletic reported.
Wide receivers Jordyn Tyson and Montana Lemonious-Craig — who led the team in receptions and receiving yards, respectively, in 2022 — are part of the mass exodus, along with the Buffaloes’ leading rusher, Deion Smith.
Safety Tyrin Taylor, wide receiver Chase Sowell, linebackers Shakaun Bowser and Aubrey Smith, as well as cornerbacks Ju’Juan Johnson and Jason Oliver also entered the portal.
The stunning turn of events comes two days after a crowd of 45,000 packed Folsom Field in Boulder for this year’s Black and Gold spring game, which saw Sanders sport a cowboy hat on the field.
Lemonious-Craig put on a show with three catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s game.
Monday’s group of players followed a separate batch of 13 athletes who entered the portal last week, including cornerback Nikko Reed, running back Jayle Stacks, and defenders Simeon Harris and Na’im Rodman.
“You all know we’re gonna move on from some of the team members, and we gonna reload,” Sanders said after finishing Saturday’s spring practice season.
“We’ve got to get some kids we really identify with, so this process is going to be quick. It’s going to be fast, but we gonna get it done.”
Although the exodus seems extreme, Sanders appeared to foreshadow a roster overhaul when he took the job at Colorado in December.
The Hall of Fame defensive back encouraged players to “go ahead and jump in that portal” during an introduction speech after he was hired from Jackson State.
At the time, Sanders vowed to bring change and a winning reputation to the program after Colorado posted a 1-11 record in 2022.
Colorado added a number of key players in the first transfer portal window, including Sanders’ son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who followed him from Jackson State.
Tight end Seydou Traore also arrived from Arkansas State, as well as Arkansas edge rusher Jordan Domineck and linebacker Demouy Kennedy from Alabama.
“We’re going to be good,” Sanders said when he made the move to Colorado. “We’re really going to be good. I do not worry… We need to stay together. We need to stay united. We need to continue to believe.
“It may not happen as quickly as you may desire, but it’s going to happen. We’re going to win. It’s going to happen. I’m not going to put a timetable on it but it’s going to happen.”
Prior to joining the Buffaloes, Sanders served as the head coach of Jackson State for three seasons, compiling a record of 25-7.