While the NFL regular season is rapidly approaching, college football has already kicked off. While Week 0 is in the books, Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes are still preparing for their first game.
With Colorado kicking off their season on Thursday against Georgia Tech, Sanders is already discussing the Buffaloes’ upcoming opponent and how thankful he is that quarterback Haynes King is gone.
Deion Sanders Glad He Won’t Have to Face Haynes King
Speaking to the media on Monday, Coach Prime took time to share his appreciation for Georgia Tech’s Brent Key, whom he called a “hard-nosed, detailed” head coach. Sanders realizes that Thursday’s matchup will be a “tremendous challenge” for a Buffaloes team that went 3-9 last season.
“Hard-nosed, detailed coach,” Sanders said. “It’s gonna be a tremendous challenge. But I love it. I absolutely love it. New parts of his staff that are phenomenal. Guys that come from the professional level as well from the collegiate level. They’re playing a big role for them this season.”
Georgia Tech, meanwhile, finished last season with a 9-4 record, including a 27-20 win over Colorado in the season opener. While showing respect for his opponent is noteworthy, Sanders’ best soundbite came when he heaped praise on the “difference-maker” Haynes King, whom Colorado will no longer have to face.
“Thank God that quarterback is gone,” Sanders added. “That kid. That kid refused to lose a year ago, and he was definitely a difference-maker. I think he had what, a buck-forty rushing? One-fifty-six? Thank you for checking me. I wanted to settle at 140. Yeah, this is a great team though, man.”
Coach Prime on facing Brent Key and Georgia Tech without Haynes King
“It’s going to be a tremendous challenge but I love it.”
“Thank God that quarterback is gone. That kid refused to lose ” 😂 pic.twitter.com/46F5p5NXRH
— DNVR Buffs (@DNVR_Buffs) August 31, 2026
Sanders was close. King ran the ball 19 times for the aforementioned 156 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns while completing 12-of-20 passes for 143 passing yards and an interception.
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King is now on the Carolina Panthers, and he made the team’s initial 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent after starring during the preseason.
While Sanders is glad that he doesn’t have to game plan for King anymore, as he noted, Georgia Tech will still present a challenge. The Yellow Jackets will be starting Alberto Mendoza, who transferred from Indiana and is the younger brother of Fernando Mendoza. Last season, Mendoza threw for 286 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 1 interception while also rushing for 190 yards and 1 touchdown.
Sanders is clearly very thankful that the Buffaloes no longer have to deal with King running up and down the field, but Mendoza is no slouch either.
