Brighter days are ahead in Boulder! Deion Sanders is thinking way ahead for the future of his Colorado football program. Even though the 4-8 season might leave a bitter taste, the Buffs head coach isn’t dwelling on the past. Instead, he’s laser-focused on building a championship team — and he’s starting way before you might think.

Coach Prime might lose some key players to the NFL draft next year, so he’s already on the hunt for replacements. Of course, his top target is Julian “JuJu” Lewis, a 5-star quarterback who might be flipping his commitment from USC to the Buffs. That’s a massive win for 2025, but Deion isn’t stopping there. Deion is playing the long game and even building his roster for 2026!

On July 23, Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney, a rising star in the 2026 class, simply announced on X that the “University of Colorado offered.” Toney is already racking up impressive stats as a freshman with his 35 catches for 621 yards. Although he initially committed to Miami last year, Deion’s offer might make him reconsider his options.

And Toney isn’t the only one. In May, Deion extended an offer to another top prospect, 4-star quarterback Jaden O’Neal, also from the 2026 class. O’Neal, too, proudly wrote, “After a great workout and conversation, I’m blessed to receive an offer from the University of Colorado.” 

It’s too early to say if they’ll commit to the Buffs, but Coach Prime is making a strong impression on these young athletes. However, this aggressive recruiting strategy sends another clear message: Deion Sanders is here to stay, and he’s building a dynasty in Boulder. While Matt McChesney might have some exciting storylines brewing, it seems like Deion leaving the team isn’t one of them. 

Deion Sanders will stay with Buffaloes

Three big names might be leaving the Buffs team next year. Deion’s sons, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and safety Shilo Sanders, are NFL draft-bound, and their two-way phenom, Travis Hunter, is heading out, too. Some folks think Coach Prime might follow them. But Deion’s not letting this faze him. He’s been busy building the Buffs’ roster for years to come.  Former CU player Matt McChesney dropped some interesting thoughts on a recent podcast episode. He believes Deion Sanders’ stay is tied to securing these new players. But there’s a twist! If Shedeur and Travis aren’t top draft picks, they might not “pull an Eli” and avoid committing to a specific team. This could mean they stay in Boulder for another year!

McChesney throws out a fun scenario: imagine both players thinking, “We had a great season, what if we stayed for another year with Coach Prime?” He adds, “I think it sets up for a more compelling storyline that way than they both leave, he leaves and everybody just blows it up.” And, if that happens, the lucky 2025 recruits would learn from some of the best players in college football!

Now, no matter what, Deion’s got a plan for the future Buffs, and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out!