Colorado's Deion Sanders Didn't Make Any Recruiting Trips For 2nd Straight Year

The loss of a starting quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner reportedly hasn't spurred any changes in Deion Sanders' recruitment tactics.

Sanders has not made any recruiting trips for the second straight offseason, Brent Schrotenboer reported Tuesday for USA TODAY.

According to Schrotenboer, Sanders has not yet taken advantage of the $200,000 annual budget for "private air travel for recruiting" in his head coaching contract.

Colorado obtained 14 commitments from the Class of 2025, which ranked as the 37th-strongest incoming class in college football by 247Sports.

The Buffaloes are also bringing in 17 commitments in an incoming transfer class ranked No. 26 in the nation by 247Sports.

This isn't the first time Sanders has leaned heavily on the transfer portal. The Buffaloes' incoming transfer classes ranked first in the nation during Sanders' first season with the program in 2023, and came in at No. 8 in 2024, according to 247Sports.

That strategy differs significantly from those of Sanders' counterparts at rival programs.

Between now and December 2022, LSU's Brian Kelly has made 257 off-campus recruitment trips and 46 home visits, according to Schrotenboer. The incoming 2025 LSU recruit class is ranked No. 10 in the nation by 247Sports.

Nebraska's Matt Rhule has meanwhile made 486 off-campus visits over that same span, per Schrotenboer. The Cornhuskers' incoming recruitment class is ranked No. 22 by 247Sports.

Sanders said when joining the Tamron Hall Show on Jan. 10 that he is recruiting this offseason through media appearances rather than in-person visits.

"This is how I recruit," Sanders said, indicating his presence on the talk show (3:45 mark.) "I don't go to nobody's school, to nobody's houses. I'm not doing that. I'm too old to be going to somebody's school, somebody's house.

"All the kids that I'm recruiting, matter of fact, they're in the portal. They're grown men with kids. They don't need me to come 'round their crib and try to convince them to come play for me."

Sanders' media efforts this offseason include the launch of his weekly Tubi show, We Got Time Today, as well as appearances on popular broadcasts like The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Sanders could also be hoping the upcoming NFL draft will serve as a recruitment draw for players hoping to find a path to playing professionally. Two former Colorado stars, Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, could potentially be selected as first-round picks this April.