Deion Sanders says he’s “cancer-free,” and that update may matter as much as anything Colorado has done this offseason.
After missing most of the 2025 offseason following a bladder cancer diagnosis and surgery, Sanders is back in Boulder and says he feels like himself again. He told Associated Press reporter Arnie Melendrez Stapleton, "I was fighting.
I was walking out on the property with a bag of blood and also urine and trying to get back. But this expedited the process.
Last year at this time, I was in a whole different place, and I'm just thankful," Sanders told Melendrez Stapleton.
That kind of return changes the feel around the program. Colorado’s 2025 offseason carried a very different weight, with Sanders sidelined and missing several campus events in the spring. A year later, the Buffaloes have a healthier head coach and, for the first time in a while, some real optimism heading into 2026.
The record from last season still hangs there: a 3-9 finish that Colorado didn’t expect, even with the challenge of replacing Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and star quarterback Shedeur Sanders. But the response from the program has been aggressive.
Sanders has reshaped the staff with the hiring of offensive coordinator Brennan Marion and the promotion of defensive coordinator Chris Marve. He also elevated director of player personnel Darius Darden-Box, who has been making his mark on the recruiting trail.
The roster has been turned over plenty of times during the Deion Sanders era, but this round of changes feels especially encouraging. One of the biggest reasons is quarterback Julian Lewis sticking around. Colorado spent much of 2025 dealing with a revolving door under center, and Lewis’ return gives the Buffs something to build around at the game’s most important position.
Colorado did take some losses in the portal, including star offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and wide receiver Omarion Miller. Even so, the Buffs added players who could make a real impact, including wide receiver Danny Scudero, linebacker Gideon Lampron, and a collection of defensive backs and defensive lineman.
The recruiting side has also picked up. Colorado’s class is currently No. 4 in the Big 12, with Darden-Box helping fuel that momentum. Prospects appear eager to join Sanders, Marion, and Marve, and the Buffs already have several notable 2027 commitments, including four-star quarterback Andre Adams, four-star wide receiver Jaiden Kelly-Murray, and four-star safety Gabe Jenkins.
For Colorado, the offseason story is no longer just about recovery. It’s about a coach who says he’s healthy again and a program that suddenly looks like it has some traction.
In Other News...
Jalen Ramsey Just Validated What Deion Sanders Is Building At Colorado
Colorados offseason overhaul is starting to sound like more than a personnel move. With Brennan Marion taking over as offensive coordinator and Chris Marve stepping in on defense for the 2026 season, Deion Sanders has assembled a staff that blends NFL experience with proven college ideas, and that kind of mix is already changing how the program is viewed from the outside. A leadership retreat visit from Jalen Ramsey only added to the buzz, giving the Buffaloes another high-profile voice pointing to the appeal of what Sanders is building.
Ramseys presence mattered because it underscored the shift in energy around the program, one that is tied as much to coaching credibility as to talent acquisition. Colorado has spent the offseason reworking both sides of the ball, and the new structure carries the feel of a program trying to separate itself from the pack by giving players a more professional environment and a clearer strategic identity. For a team still trying to turn recruiting momentum into sustained success, that kind of validation is the sort of thing that can echo well beyond one visit. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Faces Another Big Recruiting Test In Colorado Backfield
Colorados pursuit of three-star running back Kylan Bobo has become the latest recruiting subplot to watch as July approaches, with the Buffaloes trying to keep momentum going in a backfield they have worked hard to stock. Colorados offensive scheme and its recent recruiting push have both helped make the program an attractive option, and the staff has clearly put itself in position to matter in a race that also includes Arkansas and Memphis.
Prediction models have leaned heavily toward Colorado, but the real answer will have to wait until Bobo makes his commitment decision on July 1. For the Buffaloes, the timing matters even more because they are still looking to add stability to the running back room in their 2027 class, and landing Bobo would give this recruiting run another important lift. [Read more 🡒]