Recruiting is an essential method to fill roster gaps. Especially after losses in the transfer portal, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders understands that well and has been making moves accordingly. However, a controversial comment from his pass-rush coordinator, Warren Sapp, could now create a major setback in that process.

“Colorado assistant Warren Sapp labeled Texas high school football ‘Fake,'” shared Texas Football Life on Wednesday, “despite recent losses to Houston and TCU, both powered by Texas high school recruits.”

Losing games to Texas talent, Colorado is well aware of the level of potential it’s up against. Despite that, comments like Sapp’s only intensified the situation, placing him at the center of a wave of backlash.

Sapp made the comment on X in response to a seemingly innocent tweet from MaxPreps highlighting the recent success of DeSoto RB SaRod Baker. Although Baker has been nothing short of unstoppable, racking up 19 TDs in just five playoff games, that total could climb even higher as DeSoto heads into the 6A Division II title game this weekend. But Warren Sapp wasn’t impressed, seemingly brushing aside the numbers by questioning the level of competition in Texas.

Although the Colorado staff later deleted the post, the damage had already been done, especially given that CU had already offered Baker. Whether Sapp was even aware of that is up for debate. The optics were still rough. It was simply a bad look, especially for an assistant coach to take a shot at Texas high school football when Texas remains one of the Buffs’ most important recruiting pipeline states.

In fact, Colorado’s roster features several Lone Star natives, including Dre’lon Miller, DJ McKinney, Quanell Farrakhan Jr., Quentin Gibson, and more. While it’s clear proof that the pipeline is active and trusted, that momentum continues on the recruiting trail. Deion Sanders and his staff have secured two Texas signees (LB Carson Crawford, DB Braylon Edwards) in the 2026 class.

Now, while Texas talent already has a home in Boulder, and recruiting is built on trust and relationships, this one echoed the wrong way, something that could ultimately cost Colorado on the recruiting trail.

Warren Sapp is Florida through and through. That background matters, and it explains the bias. Like many Florida natives, Sapp clearly believes his home state produces better football talent than Texas. Still, pride doesn’t excuse dismissiveness, and it doesn’t justify taking shots at an entire football culture. More importantly, that kind of talk backfires. It’s costly in recruiting.

Though only time will tell the full impact, Colorado’s concerns have only deepened following a recent update involving a transfer portal move.

Warren Sapp’s Colorado could take a major hit

Colorado’s momentum vanished fast. After a promising 9–4 campaign in 2024, the Buffs couldn’t carry it forward, stumbling to a 3–9 finish this season. In the transfer portal era, these struggles don’t go unnoticed. Deion Sanders has leaned heavily on the portal to rebuild. But on Wednesday, that same system cut back.

According to On3, starting safety Tawfiq Byard and star wide receiver Omarion Miller are expected to enter the transfer portal. It was a gut punch. While Miller was the heartbeat of the offense with forty-five catches and 808 yards, Byard anchored the defense, leading the team with 79 tackles. Now, losing two cornerstone players could leave a big hole for Colorado.

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While rival programs are circling, and with the portal opening Jan. 2 and hundreds already on the move, it marked a major setback for Colorado’s rebuild. How Deion handles all these setbacks could shape the future of the Buffs.