Confident CU Buffs believe they're ready to take step forward – Boulder Daily Camera

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders speaks during the Big 12 NCAA college football media days in Las Vegas, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier)

LAS VEGAS — Walking around the turf at Allegiant Stadium on Wednesday, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and his sons, Shedeur and Shilo, went from interview to interview.

Some were scheduled, some were impromptu, as the CU contingent was the most sought after crew in attendance. And, as they shared the spotlight, the Sanders’ looked comfortable answering questions for hours about the 2024 Buffaloes during Big 12 media day.

Of course, the spotlight has been on the Sanders family for years, so being comfortable in this environment shouldn’t be a surprise.

“I’m not new to this,” Coach Prime said. “Like we say in the hood, I’m true to this.”

The comfort they all displayed, however, also stemmed from the fact that they feel good about the team CU has put together for this season.

Coming off a 4-8 season in Coach Prime’s first year in Boulder, the Buffs are projected for an 11th-place finish in their return to the Big 12. But, they believe they’re better than that.

“Trust me because I was on the field and I know our team; “I’m there every day,” said Shilo Sanders, a senior safety. “Everything that you all said we didn’t do good last year, we’ve got better players now that are smart, that do right and play good.

“You have a better team at every position, and the returning starters are better; just do the math. I’m not trying to brag or anything. I’m not trying to predict anything. We’ve still got to go out there and win, but we definitely have a better chance of winning this year than last year. It’s completely different and last year’s record doesn’t reflect this year.”

Coach Prime didn’t hesitate when asked what gives him confidence that the Buffaloes can be better this season. He gave several reasons why he’s confident, but it was fitting that he started with the trenches.

“When I see the offensive line and the way they train, the way they work, the way they go about their job,” he said. “When I see the defensive line coaches and the way they’re on their kids and the way they’re demanding excellence, and the way these young men are working and the athletes that they are and the bodies that they have and they developed right now.”

Coach Prime also praised the work of the receivers, running backs, specialists and other areas, but leading with the offensive and defensive lines was important. Struggles up front were a big reason why CU was last in the Pac-12 with a 1-8 conference record last year.

CU’s issues last year went beyond the trenches, though, and Coach Prime believes a big issue has been addressed.

“We have mature young men who understand the moment and understand the timing and understand now,” he said. “That’s what we have. That’s what we didn’t have. We didn’t have (enough) guys who believed in themselves. We didn’t have guys who believed in the program, believed in the team.

“We have young men who believe they’re pros. They believe that if we ball out – when we ball out – many more of us are going to get opportunities because we balled out.”

Shedeur Sanders, the Buffs’ star quarterback, and cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter are both projected to be among the top 10 picks in the NFL Draft next year. Shiloh is confident he’s going to get his name called, as do many others.

“I feel like more guys are just hungry to go to the league,” Shilo said. “So that’s how I am. So whenever you get with like-minded players and just share the same attitude on defense, then that’s what you want.”

Many of those like-minded players are new to the team this year, but the Buffs also return a significant amount of their core players from last year.

“What I feel confident in is we’re all better versions of ourselves and we have new and improved players,” Shedeur said.

At media day, the Buffs displayed the confidence and Shilo said he enjoyed telling people what he expects out of this season. And what does he expect?

“Wins,” he said.