Right now, things might feel a bit heavy for the Colorado Buffaloes’ head coach, Deion Sanders. His nest is empty with his two sons, Shedeur and Shilo, and his favorite, Travis Hunter, flying off to the NFL. However, Deion now has no time to miss his kids. Rather, he will now have to leave his mark on the recruiting trail that would help him and his kids get rid of the nepotism tags. Coach Prime has now got to show that he can do it from scratch, without his sons on the boat. Looks like Deion is leaving no stones unturned in his efforts to woo recruits. Right now, Coach Prime is in a tug-of-war with another BIG 12 giant. The reason? Who gets to woo the elite target? 

The elite target who is keeping the programs on their toes is none other than fast-rising linebacker Ezaya Tokio. Over the past couple of months, the class of 2026 prospect from Oceanside High School has been busy scheduling trips. He took an unofficial visit to Washington for the program’s much-anticipated Junior Day on March 8. Tokio then flew off to Arizona State on April 25. After the great Julian Lewis chase, it was obvious that Deion would jump into the race and catch the big fish. Here comes some good news. On May 28, Tokio posted a tweet. It read, “AG2G + After a great conversation with Coach Bartolone and Coach Helow I am happy to report that I have been offered my 13th D1 scholarship to the University of Colorado, thank you Coach Bartolone and Coach Helow GO BUFFS!!!”

Ranked as the No. 61 linebacker in his class and the No. 98 class of 2026 prospect in California, must have caught Deion with some FOMO feels. After all, how could he just sit and watch a hot recruit slip away? Looks like the ice is melting. Deion takes sincere initiative when it comes to offering scholarships. Back in April, he had extended a scholarship offer to a rising star in the world of football-Brayden Bailey, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Champ Bailey. However, in Tokio’s case, the call is going to be pretty close. And guess what? The pressure is not coming from other conference foes, but some in-house BIG 12 foes are robbing Deion’s goodnight sleep.

Kenny Dillingham and Arizona State are not going to make the chase easy for the Buffs. Looking at his film, Tokio has the strength to bull rush offensive linemen on the blitz. He keeps his head up to follow the development of the play. His USP lies in lining up inside and outside, making him a great package. But what makes Deion so nervous about the BIG 12 rival? 

Deion Sanders’ pitch and efforts are hard to ignore 

Last year, Dillingham called the linebackers “one of the most improved” units. They have been known as the werewolves. It’s been a crucial bonding measure for a group that has seen a major overhaul since 2023. Tate Romney, Caleb McCoullough, K’Vion Thunderbird, and Krew Jackson return with more experience in the second year. They were guided by the highly talented position coach, AJ Cooper. And there is no doubt that this group overachieved. So, Dillingham is likely to give tough competition to Deion to carry their linebacker legacy, sealing the deal with Tokio. But we have seen how far Coach Prime can go to woo recruits.

For his favorite JuJu Lewis, he brought in the moon and stars. From appointing 101-year-old Buffs super fan Peggy Coppom to record a special video to naming Boulder’s famous joint’s burger ‘JuJu’s Precision Pass Burger,’ the quarterback got superstar treatment. Now, what makes him push harder on the recruiting trail? His strategy: One five-star at a time. From his time at Jackson State, Deion has zeroed in on a single five-star recruit, making them the cornerstone of his class.

The trend began with two-way sensation Travis Hunter in 2022. It continued with Jordan Seaton headlining the 2024 class, and now quarterback Julian Lewis committed in 2025. While Deion Sanders is pursuing the 3-star linebacker Ezaya Tokio, Coach Prime has set his sights on Zion Elee, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound edge rusher from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. And what’s the famous Sanders pitch? “I tell them, ‘If you come here, you’re not just joining a team; you’re becoming part of something historic.'” Is Deion building something Tokio just can’t resist?