Colorado’s latest eligibility wrinkle has created a little noise around Boulder, but Deion Sanders isn’t treating it like a welcome-back party just yet.
As fall camp opened and the 2026 season got underway, Sanders said the Buffaloes are still sorting through what a recent ruling might mean for some former players. The possibility is there, but he made it clear that availability alone won’t get anybody back in the building.
“Another thing, I know there's a crazy rumor going around that some former players may be able to come back and play,” Sanders said. “I don't know where we stand on that. I don't know where.”
And Sanders didn’t stop there. He pointed out that some players who could technically fit into the conversation are already out of the picture because of the way they left Colorado.
The comment came through Well Off Media as the Buffs kicked off camp, and Sanders was blunt about the standard he expects.
“Guess what? Some guys that could have possibly played can't play because their grades,” Sanders said.
“'Cause they didn't do nothing on the way out. And they're sitting there saying 'Lord if I have one more chance.'
But they don't have another chance because of how they left us. And I wouldn't bring them back anyway, 'cause they left with F's."
That fits the message Sanders has carried throughout his Colorado tenure: talent matters, but standards matter too. He’s shown a willingness to give second chances, but only when a player has earned one.
The ruling has naturally sparked speculation about a few familiar names who could be in the mix if Colorado chooses to explore the option. Alejandro Mata is one possibility after handling kicking duties for the Buffs.
Buck Buchanan could be useful from a depth standpoint at punter. Keaten Wade is another name to keep an eye on if Colorado wants more experience off the edge.
Still, Sanders made it clear the Buffs won’t chase every possible reunion just because a door has opened. The program has been aggressive under his watch, but fit remains a real filter. A player has to help on the field and meet the academic standard off it.
There’s also an important limit to the discussion: Sanders said players from Colorado’s 2022 JUCO class are not part of the same eligibility situation, which narrows the pool of former Buffs who could actually come back.
If Colorado does end up bringing back one or two players, it could help fill some depth needs without forcing another trip into the portal. That would matter most at kicker and on the defensive line, where experience can pay off quickly.
For now, Sanders is leaving the possibility open - just barely. The Buffaloes still have details to work through before any reunion becomes real.
In Other News...
Colorado Fall Camp Opens With A Coaching Change Fans Cant Ignore
Colorados fall camp opened with a staffing wrinkle that did not go unnoticed, as the Buffaloes official coaching directory no longer lists receivers coach Jason Phillips and he was not part of the teams fall camp introductions. For a program trying to settle into its next phase, any change on the staff page tends to draw a little extra scrutiny, especially when it involves a position group as central to the offense as the receivers.
Rashad Davis, who had previously worked as an inside receivers coach, appeared to be handling Phillipss role as camp got underway. The Buffaloes have not officially confirmed what happened or offered an explanation, leaving the move to speak for itself while fans and observers try to read between the lines about how the offensive staff is being shaped. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Enters Fall Camp With Colorado Facing Early Pressure
Fall camp opened with the Buffaloes shifting preseason work to Colorado Springs, where 104 players reported as Deion Sanders and his staff started putting the roster through its first real tests of the season. Sanders has made the coaching staff and roster philosophy a central part of how this program is being built, and the start of camp is always the first checkpoint for whether that approach is translating from talk to practice.
Colorado also enters camp with an unexpected personnel note, as the program announced Jason Phillips is no longer with the team so he can attend to a family matter. It adds another layer to a week that is already about evaluation and urgency, because every early absence changes how the depth chart is shaped and how much flexibility the staff has as it sorts out the pieces before the real pressure starts. [Read more 🡒]
Colorados New OC Just Raised The Stakes For This Offense
Colorados offseason reset brought a clear message on offense, with the program turning to Brennan Marion to run the attack after its 2025 season. Marion arrives from Sacramento State, where he served as head coach, and he is expected to install his up-tempo go-go system while Chris Marve takes over as defensive coordinator. For a Buffaloes team trying to sharpen its identity, the staff changes point to a more aggressive look on both sides of the ball.
The timing makes the quarterback situation especially worth watching, because redshirt freshman Julian Lewis is projected to open the year as the starter against Georgia Tech. That is a lot to ask of a young passer in a new system, but it also gives Colorado a chance to find out quickly how fast Marions offense can take hold. The real intrigue is whether the scheme and the QB can mesh quickly enough to make the Buffaloes dangerous right away. [Read more 🡒]