Fifteen players, including a few big names, have hit the transfer portal this week, leaving the Colorado Buffaloes before fulfilling the potential they brought to Boulder.
Head coach Deion Sanders certainly isn’t losing sleep over the departures.
“I wish you guys do a little more homework when you start talking about the portal and understand what we’re losing,” he said during press conference on Thursday. “What are we losing?”
One member of the media answered, “Backups.” Another said, “Potential starters.”
“Potential?” Coach Prime said. “Where?”
Reporter: “Tight end and running back.”
“You haven’t been watching practice, huh?” Coach Prime said. “We’re good. We’re good. I trust the recruiting team. I trust our coaches and please have some faith in me. We’re good. We’re all right.”
Tight end Chamon Metayer, who transferred to CU from Cincinnati in January, and running back Alton McCaskill, a transfer from Houston last summer, were two of the big names. Both were at one point viewed as leaders in their position groups after enjoying success at their previous schools, but now will move on.
“What happens with the portal, man, and you guys need to know, a lot of people are fighting for backups,” Sanders said. “When a guy’s a starter and he transfers, you’ve got to really think about that. I mean, is he really that? I don’t know how many starters have really transferred around the country.
“I think we got some coming in from visits pretty soon, maybe even this weekend. We can attract those type of players but I don’t think we’re losing those type of players. And if we do, we’re good. We’re good. Quit making a big deal out of nothing.”
Along with Metayer and McCaskill, former five-star cornerback Cormani McClain was the biggest name to the hit the portal. He was rated as the No. 1 cornerback recruit in the country coming out of high school a year ago, but never really got on track during his roughly nine months in Boulder.
“I want the best for him, man. I really do,” Sanders said. “I want that kid to soar. I want him to man up. I want him to be the best possible athlete and human being and person that he could possibly be. I want him to fulfill all those dreams that his mother and he desires. I really, really do, man.
“I think he’s a young man that’s gonna find his way real soon. Sometimes you need to disconnect from something to reconnect to something else to restart you and re-energize you and stabilize you.”
While Sanders said he wants the best for all the young men leaving the team, his focus is on finding players to fill out the roster and plug holes. The Buffs are currently at 70 scholarship players projected for next season, with 15 open spots.
“Always depth,” Sanders said when asked about what the Buffs are looking for in the portal. “I think every coach wants depth. You want depth at the offensive line. We’re gonna bring in several more of those guys. Defensive interior guys as well.
“You know we have pass rushers coming; a couple already signed. I think we have four defensive backs as well that’s coming, two already signed. A couple linebackers are gonna come in. I think we have a commitment from a tight end, I believe.
“So, I think we’re good. I know where we are. You’ll find out where we are real soon.”
