Coach Prime pleased with CU Buffs’ progress in preseason camp

PUBLISHED August 11, 2023 at 5:34 p.m. | UPDATED: August 11, 2023 at 6:22 p.m.
With his Colorado debut three weeks away, head coach Deion Sanders said the Buffaloes certainly aren’t a finished project, but he likes where they are headed.
“I’m happy. I’m happy with what I’ve got,” Sanders said Friday at CU’s annual fall sports media day. “We’re not satisfied tremendously because that’s who we are.”
Happy, but not satisfied, is already a long way from Sanders’ start with the Buffs.
Officially introduced as CU’s head coach on Dec. 4, Sanders took over a program that went 1-11 a year ago and wasn’t competitive in most of the losses. It’s been well documented that Sanders has overhauled the roster since then.
Most of the players in his initial team meeting in December are no longer with the team. In fact, many of the players who took part in the April 22 spring game are no longer here, and with good reason.
“You had some young men (in the winter) that just didn’t want to play the game. They didn’t love football,” Sanders said. “It’s hard for me to be effective if you don’t love it, if you don’t like it, if you don’t want to live it. That’s tough. That’s tremendously tough when you’re looking at a body of just dead eyes. That’s tough on any coach. I’m pretty sure a multitude of coaches have experienced that until they could clean house and get the roster they want and it was tremendously challenging day by day.
“I’m happy with what I see every morning now.”
Of the 114 players on the roster, 86 are new to the team, with 56 of them arriving this summer. On Friday, the Buffs conducted their eighth practice of the preseason and Sanders can already see a major difference from the spring.
“Every position group has taken leaps and bounds,” he said. “The kickers probably remain to be the same (with personnel). … But, every position has really been enhanced. I feel like we’ve gotten better tremendously all over the board.”
CU’s talent at the skill positions has been on display throughout the YouTube videos posted by Sanders’ social media team. The Buffs have an established veteran quarterback in Shedeur Sanders and appear be loaded at receiver and running back, and they’ve got depth and experience in the secondary.
After a few practices in pads, the Buffs have also shown some strength in the trenches, coach Sanders said.
On YouTube videos, the Buffs seem to be using a regular starting group up front of Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan (left tackle), Jack Bailey (left guard), Van Wells (center), Jack Wilty (right guard) and Savion Washington (right tackle).
“Offense is doing a phenomenal job (on the line),” he said. “They’re doing a phenomenal job pass blocking, as well as run blocking. They have some guys that can move you off a spot. And we have plethora of backs that can get the job done, any style you want. You want power, you want finesse, you want out of the gate, which is Dylan (Edwards). You’ve got so many guys that can get it done.
“The offensive line, they’re doing their job and they’re going against a tremendous front (on defense).”
On the defensive line, Dartmouth transfer Shane Cokes has been praised as a leader and dominant force since he arrived in January. Amari McNeill, Bishop Thomas and others are stepping up at times, as well.
“Shane Cokes, to start it off, comes to practice with his lunch pail every day,” Sanders said. “We’ve got a myriad of guys from inside, from outside, they can go get that quarterback, and also stop the run and disable the run and dismantle the run, as well.
“The offensive and defensive lines, they’re doing their job and they’re in condition, they’re in shape.”
Many of the Buffs’ players believe their team has made strides not only since the spring, but each day in camp to this point.
“We’ve still got a lot to learn, but we’re coming together well,” cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter said. “It’s just a lot of things that we’re getting thrown at us and fall camp is just training. Pretty much, we’ve just got to put our head down and just go in there willing to learn and willing to be better every day.”
Along the way, Shedeur Sanders said the Buffs have had the Sept. 2 season opener at TCU on their mind.
“Every time we step on the field,” Shedeur Sanders said. “We got out there with a purpose and make sure we control the controllables, make sure everybody’s mindset (is good) and everybody’s mentally in the right place. When we go on the field, that’s all it is is mental. We’ve already done the physical part this summer. … (We prepare for TCU) each and every time we go on the field and whenever we watch film.”