“He’s as Detailed as It Comes”: Warren Sapp Feels Hyped After Deion Sanders Hires Peyton Manning’s Former Teammate as New CU Coach

Losing talents like Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and Jimmy Horn Jr. in a single offseason is a setback most college programs would take years to recover from. However, Deion Sanders is certainly doing everything he can to keep the Colorado Buffaloes on track and possibly even push the program further. And he is operating with a larger vision.

Most in Coach Prime’s position would have adjusted their playbooks based on the athletes available on the roster. Some would have focused on recruiting five-star prospects to fill the holes. But not Sanders.

Prime is stacking his sideline with former NFL superstars. The goal: Deion wants to mentor and elevate the existing players on the roster. After hiring Warren Sapp last year, Deion’s latest addition to Boulder’s staff is Marshall Faulk — one of the most brilliant minds to ever play the running back position. Sapp believes this move isn’t just smart, it would be a game-changer.

“Marshall’s different. I’ve been with Marshall since 2008 [while working for NFL Network], you know, at five in the morning — Game Day mornings — battling at each other with point and counterpoint,” an excited Sapp said during a media interaction.

Having clashed on the field countless times and traded sharp insights on the broadcast table, Sapp developed an immense respect for Faulk. He sees the former Colts and Rams RB as an exceptional addition because of his cerebral approach to the game.

“And he’s as detailed as it comes. You don’t get a better knowledge, you know? He was in the backfield with Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner, telling them about protection. So trust me, he knows this game, and we love it,” added Sapp.

The Hall of Fame running back wasn’t just an elite playmaker. Faulk is a football savant, who excelled in the backfield for two of the most revered QBs of his generation.

He was a member of the St. Louis Rams team that was described as the ‘Greatest Show on Turf’. Led by Warner and powered by Faulk, they appeared in two Super Bowls (2000 and 2002), winning on the first occasion (Super Bowl XXXIV), and losing to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the championship match the second time around. Faulk was the NFL MVP of the 2000 season.

In his 12-season NFL career (1994 to 2005), Faulk racked up 12,279 rushing yards on 2,836 carries, besides 6,875 receiving yards on 767 catches. The three-time Offensive Player of the Year may not have prior coaching experience. But his insights and his pedigree as a Super Bowl winner would no doubt inspire the budding athletes at Colorado.

Deion’s vision, however, is much larger, and Faulk isn’t the only NFL veteran he has recruited.

Deion gets Byron Leftwich on board

Byron Leftwich has also reportedly joined Colorado’s coaching staff. The former Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator with Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers brings immense experience and a reputation for running a well-oiled offensive system. That was evident during his four-year stint in the Cigar City.

Leftwich is expected to be working alongside offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. But for someone who nearly landed head coaching gigs with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Chicago Bears, it will be interesting to see how Leftwich fits into the scheme of things in Colorado.

Maybe he can evolve as a potential Deion successor if and when Prime heads to the NFL. You never know.

All said and done, it has to be acknowledged that Deion didn’t come to Colorado to play small. Through player development and strengthening of the coaching staff, he’s transforming the program into an NFL pipeline.

And with Sapp, Faulk, and Leftwich on board, one thing is clear — Colorado isn’t just aiming to compete in the Big 12. The Buffs are positioning themselves as a powerhouse in all of college football.