Deion Sanders isn’t just resetting the culture at Colorado - he’s flipping the entire script. Coming off a tough 3-9 season, Coach Prime is making it crystal clear: if you’re in Boulder, you’re all in.
And that message? It’s coming through loud and clear in the form of new team rules, hefty fines, and a no-nonsense approach to discipline and accountability.
With 42 new signees - yes, 42 - the Buffaloes are once again one of the most transfer-heavy programs in the country. That kind of roster turnover gives Sanders a rare opportunity: a clean slate. And he’s using it to lay down the law in a way only Deion can.
A New Code of Conduct - Prime Style
During a January team meeting, Sanders introduced a new set of fines targeting one of the most common - yet costly - issues in team culture: tardiness. These aren't symbolic slaps on the wrist.
Miss a workout or a meeting, and it’ll cost you. Here's the breakdown:
- Late to practice: $500
- No-show to practice: $2,500
- Late to a meeting or film session: $400
- No-show to a meeting or film session: $2,000
- Late to strength and conditioning: $1,000
- No-show to strength and conditioning: $1,500
- Late to treatment: $1,000
- No-show to treatment: $1,500
- Violation of team rules: $1,000-$2,500 (depending on severity)
- Public or social media misconduct: $2,500-$5,000
That’s not pocket change - especially for college athletes. But Sanders isn’t just trying to scare his players straight. He’s setting a tone: professionalism, discipline, and respect are non-negotiables if you want to wear the black and gold.
And speaking of what you wear - don’t think you can walk into the facility rocking gear from your old school. Sanders made his feelings on that crystal clear with a metaphor that only he could deliver.
“That would be like your lady who you have currently wearing her ex-boyfriend’s stuff,” Sanders told his team. “She is sitting up here with a shirt on that has her ex’s name.
That’s how I feel about that when I see you coming to the cafeteria. You eat our food with your last team on it?
Obviously, if you wanted to stay there, you should have stayed.”
That’s vintage Prime - colorful, direct, and impossible to misinterpret. Loyalty matters. If you’re in the building, you’re repping Colorado, period.
No Phones, No Food, No Distractions
Inside the meeting rooms, Sanders is demanding full focus. No phones.
No food. No drinks.
He wants undivided attention - and that’s part of a broader push to elevate the program’s standards after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
He’s also cracking down on language and behavior. Profanity, especially in public spaces like the dining hall, is off-limits. And when it comes to respect - particularly toward women - Sanders isn’t leaving any gray area.
“Profanity needs to stop,” he said. “We’re not the only ones in the cafeteria.
You need to be respectful. And make sure we respect our women.
If you get out of pocket and start calling our women by their first name, that’s a problem with me.”
This isn’t just about football. It’s about molding young men, and Sanders is treating that responsibility with the seriousness it deserves.
A New-Look Roster, Again
The roster overhaul in Boulder continues - and once again, it’s dramatic. Redshirt freshman Julian Lewis is set to take over as QB1, with Isaac Wilson, the Utah transfer and younger brother of NFL quarterback Zach Wilson, backing him up.
In the backfield, Richard Young, a transfer from Alabama, brings power and pedigree. He’ll pair with returning back Micah Welch and two more additions from Sacramento State to form a deep, physical running back room.
At wide receiver, Colorado landed one of the top portal prizes in DeAndre Moore Jr., formerly of Texas. He’ll be a go-to target alongside Danny Scudero (San Jose State) and Kam Perry (Miami University), giving Lewis a trio of weapons to work with in the passing game.
But the biggest change might be up front. The offensive line will be brand new - out of necessity.
Star tackle Jordan Seaton, one of the top players in the country, transferred to LSU, leaving a major hole. In response, Colorado brought in a group of experienced linemen from Power Five programs to rebuild the unit from scratch.
Defense Reloaded
While the offense is full of new faces, the defense might be where Colorado made its biggest splash in the portal. The Buffs landed Boo Carter from Tennessee, a versatile safety with big-play potential. Liona Lefau, a linebacker from Texas, brings SEC toughness to the middle of the defense, and Cree Thomas, a cornerback from Notre Dame, is expected to play a major role in the secondary.
Altogether, Colorado’s transfer class ranks 22nd in the country, according to 247Sports. It’s a haul loaded with experience, upside, and - if Sanders can get them to buy in - the kind of talent that can flip a program’s fortunes fast.
The Bottom Line
Deion Sanders isn’t just coaching football at Colorado - he’s building a culture. And after a 3-9 season that fell far short of expectations, he’s making it clear that change is coming from the inside out. The fines, the rules, the expectations - they’re all part of a blueprint to turn potential into results.
It’s bold. It’s unapologetic. And it’s very much Prime Time.