Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is an inspiration to many young players who dream of playing in the National Football League. The former defensive back earned eight Pro Bowl selections, six All-Pro honors, and two Super Bowl championships. So, for a young Breiden Fehoko stepping into college football, Sanders was an idol he looked up to, only to feel disappointed later.

“What really pissed me off and what really turned me on Deion Sanders and what really made me think that this guy’s a f*****g scumbag, I was a 17-year-old kid in Orlando, Florida. I remember Deion walked by, we were in the players’ lounge for the Under Armour All-American game, and I remember Deion walking by, and I’m a young kid from Hawaii, just left the Rock,” Fehoko told journalist Tony Farmer on The Breiden Fehoko Show.

“I go up to Deion and he’s got his whole entourage with him just like how Deion rolls now. I said, ‘Man, Deion, I’m a big fan of you.’ He’s just looking at me right now. I’m like, ‘I’m a big fan of you, man. I would love to get a picture. I would love some advice, man. Like, how do you know? What are some things I can do to be successful?’ He looks at me in this very tone. He says, ‘Hey, man. Move along.’ Just like that.”

In January 2015, Fehoko had just finished his high school career and committed to Texas Tech. Before enrolling, he played in the Under Armour All-America Game, where Sanders served as an All-Star coach and mentor.

Sanders attended the showcase as a longtime brand ambassador, although his corporate relationship with Under Armour ended in 2023 when he signed a new deal with Nike after becoming the head coach at Colorado.

Although Fehoko had a great ending to his college career by winning the College Football Playoff championship with the LSU Tigers for the 2019 season, he did not forget how Sanders made him feel.

“His entourage or his security guards at the time, they’re like, ‘Yeah, hey, big d*g. Move out the way.’ So they just kind of move me and Fred Ulu-Perry out the way. And ever since that moment, I haven’t held a grudge against Deion, but I just looked at him differently. Whenever I see Deion post in the media, all these Bible quotes, all these talk about doing good, doing I look at him, I’m like, Dion, you’re a f*****g scumbag. I don’t respect you,” Fehoko added.

Sanders is currently facing public scrutiny due to a lawsuit where Graphic Designer Alan Tipp has accused Sanders of using logos he designed without properly compensating him. Tipp’s federal lawsuit claims that Sanders and other defendants used the designs for branding and merchandising while he was not paid for his work.

Another case involves Sanders’ son, Shilo Sanders, who is facing a bankruptcy trial. Deion was subpoenaed to testify in the case, but his attorney, Harvey Steinberg, has challenged the subpoena.

Steinberg argued that requiring Sanders to appear in person would create an undue burden because it coincides with Colorado’s preparations for its season opener against Georgia Tech.