Colorado fans have been riding an emotional roller coaster this recruiting season. After watching their team struggle to land top prospects in June, many started questioning whether Deion Sanders could deliver on his recruiting promises.
But one analyst thinks those doubts were premature, and now he’s demanding an apology.
Why Did Colorado’s Recruiting Struggle in June?
The Colorado Buffaloes have experienced an up-and-down recruiting cycle with the 2026 class. In early June, reports surfaced that head coach Deion Sanders was dealing with an unspecified health issue that kept him away from campus, negatively impacting recruiting.
This absence created a significant problem during official visits. “Locked on Buffs” host Kevin Borba explained that visiting Boulder without Coach Prime simply isn’t the same experience as visiting when he’s on campus.
“If Deion Sanders isn’t there, it’s a little different,” Borba said. “So I think Colorado, unfortunately, had a handful of blue-chip recruits, and there’s still plenty of time to flip these guys. Those guys visit Colorado, and he’s not there, so it’s tough.”
As a result, many Colorado fans grew increasingly pessimistic about how the recruiting class would develop. The timing couldn’t have been worse, as June is typically a crucial month for official visits and commitments.
How Did Sanders Turn Things Around in July?
However, the Buffaloes have gained momentum in July, recently landing one of the top linebacker recruits in the country. After a slow start to the 2026 recruiting cycle, Colorado is picking up steam, landing five commits in July thus far.
The turning point came when Colorado secured a commitment from four-star linebacker Rodney Colton Jr. This commitment prompted Borba to call on fans to issue an apology, making it clear he’s had enough of the negativity surrounding the program.
Following Colton’s commitment, Borba believes Buffalo fans owe Sanders and linebacker coach Andre Hart an apology for the previous negativity.
“For Coach Prime to be in the mix, for Coach Hart to be a key factor in this recruitment, I think it’s apology time for some of you,” Borba said.
Sanders’s recent hot streak in July marks a change in momentum on the recruiting trail. The coach has shown he can bounce back from adversity and deliver results when healthy and present on campus.
What Challenges Still Remain for Colorado’s 2026 Class?
Despite the recent success, the Buffaloes still have significant work ahead in the 2026 recruiting cycle. They currently have just nine commits, and their class is ranked No. 79 nationally, according to 247Sports.
This ranking is well below where it will need to finish for the Buffaloes to continue building their program into a competitive one. Most of the top recruits in the 2026 class have verbally committed, so as Borba pointed out, Sanders will have to work hard to flip some of those guys before early national signing day in December.
The timeline presents both challenges and opportunities. It’s a long way away, and if Sanders can continue to stay hot on the recruiting trail, then Colorado can once again finish with one of the best classes in the Big 12.
The recent momentum shift demonstrates that fan pessimism may have been premature. Sanders has proven he can overcome obstacles and deliver results, even when facing health issues that temporarily sideline his recruiting efforts.
