Deion Sanders has never been one to shy away from the spotlight, but on a recent vlog appearance, the Colorado head coach gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at something more than just his charisma - he offered a glimpse into the delicate balance college coaches walk between helping young athletes and staying within the bounds of NCAA rules.
While filming content for his son’s Well Off Media vlog, Sanders was checking out a set of cleats when he paused mid-thought. His instinct was to do what he’s always done - give back.
Specifically, he wanted to send cleats to mothers whose sons show athletic promise but can’t afford proper gear. But just as quickly as the idea came to him, he caught himself.
“I would love to send these to you right now, but it’s an NCAA violation,” Sanders said. “I can’t do it.
I would love to. Maybe Bucky can.”
“Bucky” is Deion Sanders Jr., who runs the family’s media arm and, crucially, isn’t bound by NCAA restrictions. Without missing a beat, Bucky chimed in: “Yeah, I can.”
That moment - candid, unscripted, and heartfelt - was a real-time example of how coaches often have to navigate the gray areas of NCAA compliance while still trying to live up to their own values. Sanders didn’t just stop there. He laid out what kind of families he hoped to help, emphasizing need over appearances.
“You can’t have Gucci down and Louis down to the floor and shorty ain’t got this now,” he said. “It’s got to be somebody that’s really in need that Bucky’s going to look at for, right, son?”
“Yes, sir,” Bucky replied.
It was a father-son exchange that highlighted both a personal mission and a professional constraint. Sanders, who has long preached a “bigger than football” mentality, found a workaround that keeps him on the right side of NCAA rules while still trying to make an impact.
This moment comes during a particularly active offseason for Sanders and the Buffaloes. On the debut episode of Season 2 of his Tubi show We Got Time Today, Sanders told co-host Rocsi Diaz that he’s “tearing it up in the portal.”
And the numbers back that up. Colorado brought in 42 transfer commitments this offseason - a massive influx that offsets more than 35 departures, including the high-profile exit of offensive lineman Jordan Seaton.
That transfer class currently ranks No. 22 in the nation, according to 247Sports.
For Sanders, the show isn’t just entertainment - it’s strategy. Last year, he explained that We Got Time Today is more than a talk show; it’s a recruiting tool.
It allows him to connect with players and families in a way that traditional recruiting methods often can’t. It’s another example of how Sanders is reshaping the playbook - not just on the field, but off it, too.
And that philosophy extends to the players who are moving on. In an appearance on The Pregame Network podcast, Sanders explained that his staff has actively helped players find new homes before they even enter the portal.
“Some of them, we’ve helped them find a team before we allowed them get in the portal,” he said.
That kind of support isn’t just talk. Back in October, during Colorado’s bye week, Sanders hosted a scrimmage specifically for backup players - giving them game film to showcase to potential suitors. It was another move that underscored his belief that coaching is about more than just wins and losses.
Thursday’s cleat conversation may have started as a casual moment on a vlog, but it ended up saying a lot about the kind of coach Sanders is trying to be. He’s walking a tightrope - between compliance and compassion, between rules and real life - and doing it in a way that keeps both his integrity and his message intact.