2 weeks ago
Colorado caput shot coach Deion Sanders has precocious faced immoderate headwinds connected nan roster building front. The Buffaloes person knowledgeable a wide exodus successful nan weeks aft nan outpouring opening of nan transportation portal.
One of nan departing players, Xavier Smith, raised immoderate eyebrows erstwhile he criticized his erstwhile coach.
Smith said Sanders pushed him to transportation astatine immoderate constituent aft nan NFL fable became nan coach successful Boulder. He told The Athletic Sanders told him he should "probably deed nan portal" and didn’t want him to "waste a twelvemonth reasoning I could gain a spot."
"I was really getting mad, for illustration tears coming to my eyes. Because, bro, you ne'er moreover tried to get to cognize me," Smith added.
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Head coach Deion Sanders and Shedeur Sanders (2) of nan Colorado Buffaloes locomotion together anterior to a crippled against nan UCLA Bruins astatine Rose Bowl Stadium Oct. 28, 2023, successful Pasadena, Calif. (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)
The player besides accused his erstwhile coach of "destroying guys' confidence."
COLORADO LOSES TOP RUNNING BACK IN TRANSFER PORTAL IN BLOW TO DEION SANDERS-LED TEAM
"He was destroying guys’ assurance and belief successful themselves," Smith told The Athletic successful a communicative published April 29. "The measurement he did it, it could’ve been done pinch a small much compassion."
Colorado caput coach Deion Sanders walks nan perimeter of nan section arsenic players lukewarm up earlier a crippled against Colorado State Sept. 16, 2023, successful Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
But Smith's erstwhile teammate, Shedeur Sanders, came to nan defense of his begetter and trolled nan erstwhile Buffaloes information successful nan process.
"Ion moreover retrieve him tbh. Bro had to beryllium very mid astatine best," nan Colorado quarterback wrote connected X, formerly Twitter.
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Smith transferred to UTEP.
The publication besides said to different departing Colorado players, immoderate of whom shared affirmative feedback astir Sanders.
Sanders was blunt erstwhile he took nan programme over, particularly aft nan team’s first outpouring game.
Colorado caput coach Deion Sanders, left, talks pinch his son, backmost Shedeur Sanders, earlier nan first half of a crippled against Southern California Sept. 30, 2023, successful Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
"You each cognize that we’re going to move connected from immoderate of nan squad members, and we’re going to reload and get immoderate kids that we really place with," Sanders said aft nan outpouring game, according to The Athletic. "So, this process is going to beryllium quick, it’s going to beryllium fast, but we’re going to get it done."
He besides preached "hope" aft past year’s nationalist signing day.
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"We’re not recruiting conscionable nary mean Tom, Dick and Harry," Sanders said connected nationalist signing day. "We recruited immoderate guys that tin ray up nan scoreboard and forestall touchdowns from occurring. We’re coming. We’re superior astir that.
"Hope is successful nan house. Hope is successful nan air. Hope is successful nan city. Hope is successful nan community."
Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.
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Chantz Martin is simply a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
