Deion Sanders definitely looks like he’s settling in in Colorado and not heading to the NFL (Video)

There has been no shortage of speculation about Deion Sanders coaching this or that NFL team.

Speculation, mind you, not even rumors or anonymous reports.

In a media landscape desperate for engagement, you won’t miss putting Coach Prime and the Dallas Cowboys in the same sentence, for example. And so it snows.

Up in Colorado, where he coaches an 8-2 team that controls its College Football Playoff path, Sanders just kind of smiles and waves it off.

“I’m happy where I am,” Prime said this week. “I’m doing well. I’ve got a boner. Do you know what a boner is? …That means I’m resting. I’m doing well. I’m happy. I’m excited. I’m thrilled where.” I really love it here.

The long list of college head coaches who say they’re not going anywhere no matter where they end up – often at a rapid pace – prevents anyone from fully understanding Sanders’ point, which is no offense to him.

After all, Tommy Tuberville once said he would only leave Ole Miss in a “pine box.” He ended up taking a private jet to the job in Auburn.

Still, the image of Prime Content on his bike, with the kickstand down and looking at all the good things happening around him now and seemingly in the future, is pretty captivating.

Consider that Rivals.com five-star quarterback Julian “Ju Ju” Lewis of Carrollton, Georgia, announced Thursday during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he was heading to Colorado. The former USC commit, who made a late recruiting push for Georgia, appeared eager to acquire Sanders’ son Shedeur, who is headed to the NFL draft.

“I don’t think there’s anyone better to learn how to read coverages from than Coach Prime,” Lewis said.

Welcome to Prime 2.0 – at least in terms of its Colorado era.

It began as a seemingly chaotic and perhaps murderous roster turnover for the Buffaloes that turned a 1-11 team last season into a sensation that resulted in sold-out stadiums, huge television ratings and endless media coverage.

Could it work? Would it work? Should it work?

Now, with success on the field, there is a proof of concept. Sanders will still be heavily focused on the transfer portal – but there’s a Moneyball-esque strategy behind it. It looks like he’s going to surgically conquer the high school ranks as well.

Lewis is expected to be the start of a series of commits and flips from highly touted prospects over the next few weeks.

The next could be Carde Smith, a strong four-star offensive lineman from Alabama who decommitted from USC earlier this week. Then all recruiting eyes are on the half-dozen prospects — including verbals from Ohio State and Alabama — who visited Boulder last weekend from IMG Academy in Florida.

The talent Colorado can attract is particularly notable in the context of the Big 12, which doesn’t have major, traditional recruiting brands… but does have an automatic bid to the playoffs. It’s a pretty good situation.

There is no more charismatic coach in college football than Deion Sanders. Now that he has wins, fun and NFL development to his name, it’s no longer about duping him. That’s what Travis Hunter did when he signed with Coach Prime at Jackson State as the No. 1 recruit in the 2021 class. Three years later — and after following Deion to Colorado — he could win the Heisman and be picked in the top five of the draft.

Sanders has been patient in recruiting high school students. He knew he wouldn’t achieve much right away at CU, so he paid little attention to it. Even now, he doesn’t fly around to visit potential clients – they have to come to him – and he doesn’t pitch dozens of children. He only wants players he believes can contribute as a rookie. Otherwise, Prime argues, why not get an older, more experienced player from the portal?

“Let’s just say we have 25 high school players,” he explained last week. “How many will play their first year? Let’s say four or five at most.

“Now you have 20 redshirt guys. So if you go through this spring with 20 redshirt guys, how many are you going to keep after this spring? How many will you jump through the portal?”

Sanders said his research suggests half will leave.

“Then why don’t I just focus on 10 (high school recruits)?” he said. “Look, when we grab a freshman, we expect that guy to play. For us, it’s not just about persuading you and developing you further. No no no. We’re looking for you to come over and play football.

“So our approach is a little different and will be heavily scrutinized and heavily criticized, but we know what we are doing.”

The Buffaloes are now winning on the field in ways few could have imagined. They acquire talent in the same way. There was no limit to the number of critics or skeptics who said this was doomed to fail, or if it somehow succeeded, Prime would drop out as soon as Shedeur and Travis were finished.

Anything can happen. This is college football. But Deion Sanders seems to be settling in, not leaving.

Stand down, the plan is working.