Deion Sanders, Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee and head coach at Colorado, has returned to full strength after his recent health challenges. At the Big 12 Media Day in July, Sanders stated, “I’m healthy, I’m vibrant, I’m my old self.” As he resumes his coaching duties with renewed energy, Sanders is focusing on strict discipline and minimizing distractions within the team.
Following a scrimmage on Aug. 17, Sanders addressed the Colorado players with a direct message captured in an ESPN College Football video. He told them: “If you perform like you performed in that scrimmage, they going to eat you alive.” Sanders also instructed: “Disconnect your social media,” emphasizing that hype and online followers are not substitutes for preparation and focus on game day.
Not all players are responding to this directive in the same way. Quarterback Kaidon Salter remains active on social media and recently shared a video reposted by the Big 12 conference. In contrast, Julian Lewis has refrained from online activity for several days, not interacting with posts even when tagged by sponsors. This difference highlights varying approaches as both quarterbacks compete for a starting position.
Sanders has extended his expectations beyond athletics to classroom conduct as well. He said to his team: “No slides, no hoodies, no headphones, no back row,” reinforcing that effort and discipline should be demonstrated everywhere. He added: “If I see you with slides on campus tomorrow, it’s going to be a problem.”
In addition to dress code rules on campus and in class, Sanders has tied Name Image Likeness (NIL) earnings to academic performance: “When you stop going to class and I see a multitude of Fs and Ds, we’re gonna affect your check,” he told the players. Under his leadership, the football program reported its best-ever GPA of 3.011 for Fall 2024 and maintained strong results into Spring 2025.
Sanders also spoke about issues related to peer pressure among players: “This is the thing that poses the biggest threat to me, that I’m truly concerned of… And they start doing things that are not indicative of who they are, because they’re playing, they’re trying to be accepted.” He insisted there would be consequences for actions such as wearing improper gear or neglecting standards: “We’re not gonna do that… Smart, tough, fast, disciplined, with character.”
Sanders regularly reminds his athletes about life beyond football: “95% of y’all are not going pro.” His approach aims at developing student-athletes who are prepared both for games and for future challenges away from football.
With Colorado’s Big 12 opener against Georgia Tech approaching soon, both team discipline and leadership will come under scrutiny as competition among quarterbacks continues.
