In a recent report by USA Today, it was revealed that Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has not engaged in any off-campus contact with recruits since taking on the job in December 2022.
As we all know, recruiting is nearly as important as actual coaching in college football. The hours that coaches spend on the road recruiting players is endless.
However, Coach Prime is not a believer in recruiting “on the road” the way virtually every other coach is.
Deion Sanders is against a very common and popular recruiting tactic:
Visiting recruits at their homes.
Bold. Very bold for a coach who went 1-8 in his final nine games last season.
DETAILS: https://t.co/vajRbfU22E pic.twitter.com/rwFkC52vQj
— OutKick (@Outkick) March 21, 2024
“My approach is totally different than many coaches,” Sanders explained. “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.”
Translation: “I’m leaving after shedeur leaves so who cares about high school recruiting”
— Steve Franklin (@MyGuySteve) March 20, 2024
Of course, Sanders’ unique approach has garnered many critics who believe his methods aren’t the best way to build a winning program.
“Deion’s recruiting strategy may well work for him in the end, but this is quite the spin zone,” Dan Wolken of USA Today said.
Deion Sanders responds to story about his unique recruiting style: 'I'm Coach Prime' https://t.co/ndJlPM2EBM
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) March 21, 2024
Despite the controversy, Colorado currently boasts the #22 recruiting class in the nation according to 247Sports, a commendable achievement given Sanders’ hands-off approach with prospects.
.@keyshawn understands the new recruiting style from Deion Sanders:
"He's Coach Prime! He's going to do it different." pic.twitter.com/4BdIYAro8K
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) March 21, 2024
Of course, Coach Prime is a very unique coach.
Regarded as one of the best and most-popular players in the history of the sport, many recruits just simply want to play for him, no matter how hands-off his recruiting approach might be.
However, you have to wonder how much better the Colorado program would be if Sanders was as dedicated “on the road” as other coaches are.
He’s banking on his celebrity status to bring in the recruits. I like him, but he needs to humble himself.
— RTRGirl96 (@RTRGirl96) March 22, 2024
Are you a believer in Sanders’ unorthodox methods?
Do you think he genuinely feels that approach is what’s best for Colorado’s program?
Or do you think Coach Prime is just being a bit lazy???
The only evidence for this strategy that we have so far is a 4-8 season and bad recruiting rankings. It’ll be interesting to see if he’s around long enough for this experiment to start bearing fruit.
— Pepe Schultz-Schultz (@SchultzxSchultz) March 20, 2024