“You’re gonna have to change the way you recruit. Guys ain’t coming. If you can’t go to their house, their grandma’s house, their mom’s house, their granddad’s house, they’re not coming. It’s just not enough for you to be Deion Sanders, Coach Prime,” Sharpe said on the October 17 episode of his Nightcap podcast. “You have to take yourself out of the equation. It ain’t about you, it’s about these kids. And you got to show them that it’s about them.”
This stance mirrors Sanders’s own public comments on recruitment. In a November 2024 press conference, he indicated a preference for signing around 10 high school players rather than a larger class of 25, acknowledging the high rate at which recruits transfer. “It’s got to be mutual. It’s got to be a fit. And I can feel it when they come on a visit,” Sanders noted.
Background reporting indicates Sanders generally does not conduct in-person school or home visits himself; instead, Colorado’s position coaches handle those duties. Duncanville coach Reginald Samples said Sanders repeatedly called him to inquire about players, while Colorado’s running backs coach and offensive coordinator visited the school.
Colorado continues to market itself effectively through FaceTime, social media, Sanders’s celebrity, and the sense of a family atmosphere. The NFL paths of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter have strengthened the program’s appeal.
“Because guess what? Ryan Day is going to sit on their couch. [Curt] Cignetti is going to sit on their couch. All these other top coaches are coming. If a coach won’t come sit on your grandma’s, your mom’s, or your parents’ couch, what is he telling you?” Sharpe argued, highlighting that top coaches routinely make in-person visits to recruit.
The latest setback came in Week 7 when No. 11 Utah defeated Colorado 27-24 in Boulder, extending Utah’s winning streak to 12 games. Colorado entered halftime down 13-0 and managed only 70 yards of offense, paired with 82 penalty yards. In the second half, the Buffaloes produced 324 of their 394 total yards, with quarterback Isaac Wilson throwing for 256 yards and two touchdowns. He also tossed two interceptions, the second with 5:17 left, setting up a Utah touchdown. Wilson led an 83-yard drive that narrowed the gap to 27-24 with 1:21 remaining, but Colorado’s final drive faltered. A miscue occurred when Wilson scrambled and pitched to Quanell Farrakhan Jr., who advanced toward the Utah 38-yard line, but officials ruled it an illegal forward pass, wiping out the gain. The final pass fell incomplete, and Colorado finished with 10 penalties for 93 yards, dropping to 2-4.
Sharpe’s focus now shifts to the upcoming recruiting class, and continued losses could amplify his message. In the postgame press conference, Sanders acknowledged the disappointing result but offered an unconventional response. “I did something I never do after the loss,” he said. “I stood up there on the podium and told those kids, ‘I’m really proud of y’all, man.’ Because they fought. They didn’t give up. They had a chance… I really hate that the record tells a different story than who they really are… a pity party because ain’t nobody care.”
Colorado now prepares for a trip to No. 18 Oklahoma State, while Utah hosts No. 20 Houston on October 24.
