As the clock winds down to the 2024 college football season, even more attention is focused on Deion Sanders’ Colorado team — but for the wrong reasons.
A report from Athlon Sports delved into a purported program culture that allowed violence to run rampant in the Buffaloes locker room.
“It’s like a real-life Grand Theft Auto video game,” one former player said. “There are many distractions with fights, guns, and money floating around. The environment is unlike any I’ve come from before.”
One specific instance involved safety Shilo Sanders and five-star recruit Cormani McClain getting into a heated altercation late in the 2023 season.
“After the Oregon State game [on Nov. 4], Shilo slapped him several times, which left Cormani screaming ‘I’m going to kill you’ repeatedly,” an anonymous former player said. “After that, you could tell he wasn’t mentally there. It’s hard when the coaches you trust are calling you derogatory names on the practice field.”
McClain, 247 Sports’ No. 14 overall recruit in the Class of 2023, played only 277 total snaps in his first year in Boulder before transferring to Florida in a move marred by controversy.
“I feel like I just don’t want to play for clicks,” McClain said after hitting the portal. “I actually want to be involved with a great leading program that’s going to develop players.”
Deion then countered by suggesting that McClain’s own personal work ethic was inadequate with the Buffs.
“I’m always in prayer for our young men, and I want the best for them. I pray to God that he goes to a program that challenges him, as well as hold him accountable and develop him as a young man,” Sanders said.
Athlon also reported on player fights that took place last season between offensive lineman Savion Washington, who is now with Syracuse, and five-star freshman tackle Jordan Seaton, in which Seaton was bullied into “proving his manhood” before scrapping.
Receiver Kaleb Mathis allegedly punched quarterback Colton Allen because of not wanting to repay a gambling debt over $10,000, according to Athlon.
Colorado’s athletic communications did not return a request for comment from The Post about the allegations.
The Buffaloes have had a slew of troubling testaments to their culture in the last few months alone.
Safety Xavier Smith — who transferred to Austin Peay following the 2022 season — told The Athletic in April that Sanders implored he should leave after only one year.
“I was actually getting mad, like tears coming to my eyes,” Smith said. “Because, bro, you never even tried to get to know me. He was destroying guys’ confidence and belief in themselves. The way he did it, it could’ve been done with a little more compassion.”
In response, quarterback Shedeur Sanders lambasted Smith, with Deion’s youngest son writing on X, “Ion even remember him tbh. Bro had to be very mid at best.”
Then, Deion and Shedeur expressed confidence at Big 12 Media Days surrounding the school’s perception.
“It’s been that since Day 1,” Sanders said about higher expectations. “I remember first media day when I was in HBCU [Jackson State]. I said, ‘We won’t lose a game.’ I’m undefeated in the SWAC, so I already know what the expectation comes with. I know we’re everybody’s Super Bowl.”
Even as “EA Sports College Football 25” provided levity with its mid-July release, star receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter appeared to throw the team’s horrific offensive line under the bus.
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