Just when Deion Sanders thought he was making major strides with his team, they hit a major roadblock. With the spring game wrapped up, Colorado saw chemistry between all the new transfer players and recruits. Coach Prime was finally seeing some momentum. But their dip from last year’s production just put them in the worst position in the Big 12.

Teams in the Big 12 are all over the place when it comes to returning snaps. For example, BYU is returning about 63% of its snaps (3rd in college football). Texas Tech is returning around 52% in 21st position, and Houston is close to 50% in 30th position. But Colorado’s situation is entirely grim. The Buffs are returning just 21% of their snaps, ranking them 127th among FBS teams.

The calculations around returning production have not been perfect, as they only include starters and ignore backups and rotation players. Oftentimes, backups go on to start for college teams when seniors go to the pros. That’s why another method called returning snaps is used. This metric looks at how much actual playing time (snaps) from last season is coming back. It includes both starters and other players who were on the field, giving a fuller picture of the team.

After a tough 3-9 season, Deion Sanders’ teams saw a major dip in their return rate. They lost more than 45 players to the transfer portal. They recorded just 55% of the returning positions. Now, they were successful in saving key players like quarterback Julian Lewis, wide receiver Joseph Williams, running back Micah Welch, and linebacker Kylan Salter, but that was far less than the production they lost.

The team lost key players and starters, including Ryan Staub, Kaidon Salter, Jordan Seaton, Omarion Miller, and others. This data shows the sudden dip in the returning snap rankings. However, the Buffs have almost 40 new transfer players and 11+ recruits, yet even their old snaps don’t count toward Colorado’s playing time. It’s all part of developing a new team and system for them to perform in the coming season, rather than saving what they already had. Colorado is in a difficult position compared to teams like BYU.

Deion Sanders’ team is in the bottom four, whereas BYU is at the top. In fact, the Cougars alone have more returning snaps than the bottom four teams combined. Now, to tackle that situation, Deion Sanders has to focus on key positions to fill the gap.

Deion Sanders’ major area of concern

For the Buffs to again compete in the Big 12, some holes need to be filled. One big problem is at cornerback. Preston Hodge left for the NFL, so the team needs a replacement. Cree Thomas, who transferred from Notre Dame, is likely to take one starting spot because he impressed in spring practice.

But the second cornerback spot is still open. Players like Justin Eaglin, RJ Johnson, Makari Vickers, Boo Carter, Paul Omodia, Emory Floyd, and Jason Stokes Jr. are fighting for that position.

The second big focus is fixing the offensive line, especially the tackle positions. This has been a weak area, so Sanders brought in new players like Bo Hughley, Leon Bell, Taj White, and Jayven Richardson. Larry Johnson III also returns from last year. With the new OC, Brennan Marion, teams are looking to improve their protection of the QB.

The third focus is the safety position. Three new players, Randon Fontenette, Naeten Mitchell, and Jah Jah Boyd, had impressive outings in spring practice. But choosing the right starter is where the problem lies. They might rotate them or move one to a different role so all can contribute.

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