The Challenge of Rebuilding: Deion Sanders Navigates High Player Departures at Colorado

As the new head coach of Colorado, Deion Sanders has faced his fair share of challenges during his tenure. One such challenge is the high volume of player departures in the transfer portal. With the spring transfer window now open, several players have entered the Buffaloes’ program with the goal of pursuing opportunities elsewhere.

Among those departing is former five-star prospect Cormani McClain, who was ranked as the top cornerback by 247Sports in 2023. Although McClain did not have a significant role on the team last year, his decision to leave could impact the perception of the program moving forward.

In addition to McClain, Colorado has also suffered a blow with the departure of starting offensive lineman Savion Washington, who played at right tackle and started 10 games last season. Coming off a season where Washington performed well despite challenges on the offensive line, his exit leaves Colorado with the task of replacing all five starting offensive linemen from the previous year, totaling 114 combined starts.

On the defensive side, Colorado has lost key players like Chazz Wallace and Devee Harris, who both started games and served as important reserves last season. Another significant departure is former Top247 safety Myles Slusher, who started in the 2023 season opener against TCU. With these losses, Colorado faces the challenge of rebuilding its roster through the transfer portal, particularly on the offensive line where significant turnover has occurred.

As Sanders enters his second year leading the program, he will need to navigate these challenges and find new pieces to fill