In an intriguing twist in the college football landscape, Deion Sanders, the head coach at Colorado, has accused Virginia of engaging in tampering with one of his players. This claim came to light during a behind-the-scenes video posted by Well of Media, which is managed by Deion Sanders Jr. In the video, Coach Prime, ever the charismatic leader, light-heartedly challenged his team at the conclusion of practice, playfully searching for a player who hadn’t considered entering the transfer portal to break down the team’s huddle.
Sanders raised eyebrows when he mentioned that safety Carter Stoutmire had been “offered a bag” to transfer to another program, a clear indication of tampering that could stir the pot among coaches. Unlike some who might shy away from making pointed remarks in front of cameras, Coach Prime took the opportunity to directly address Virginia. “Virginia, you got to stop,” he said, adding, “I let you have one. I ain’t say nothing about it. Come on now.” This bold statement not only underlines Sanders’ fiery persona but also sets the stage for potential repercussions in the recruiting environment.
Carter Stoutmire is no slouch on the field himself, having tallied 42 tackles, seven pass breakups, and a forced fumble during his sophomore campaign. With his return for a third year, he is poised to play a crucial role in bolstering a secondary that’s faced the challenge of filling the void left by Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
What’s particularly noteworthy is that Stoutmire has not entered the transfer portal. Any contact by another institution regarding a potential transfer would breach NCAA regulations, putting teams in a precarious position should these claims hold weight.
While Stoutmire refrained from officially charging anyone with tampering during this episode, he did engage on the topic when a reporter brought up the reopened transfer portal. The son of NFL safety Omar Stoutmire characterized the situation as a “tricky topic,” but emphasized his steadfast loyalty to Colorado, dismissing any notion of leaving for a lucrative NIL offer. “When a majority of kids see someone go out there and throw a few hundred thousand at them, they’ll jump at it immediately,” he stated. “Just me personally, I just have so much loyalty to this program… My loyalty is just so strong here. I don’t think there’s a number out there that could get me to leave.”
This isn’t the first time coaches have alleged tampering, though many shy away from naming specific institutions. However, after Coach Prime’s public allegations, Virginia’s head coach Tony Elliott may soon find himself needing to respond. Furthermore, this drama serves as a reminder for other schools to tread carefully when it comes to contacting Colorado players outside of the established transfer portal processes. As the narrative unfolds, it’s becoming clear that the tension in college football recruiting is only heating up.
