Colorado's Warren Sapp trying to flip SEC commit

Warren Sapp’s transition from NFL Hall of Fame defensive tackle to college football assistant coach under Deion Sanders has taken another interesting turn. The Colorado Buffaloes’ pass rush coordinator is now trying to flip a SEC recruit His target is Kentucky pledge Ben Duncum, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive lineman from Austin Lake Travis (Texas).

Duncum is noted as a three-star prospect, according to Rivals Industry Ranking. He committed to Kentucky in June over Oklahoma State, Wisconsin, and Kansas State. While K-State remains involved, the competition for his signature has shifted to some new contenders, including Baylor, Auburn, and now Colorado. This becomes interesting with Sapp being one of the most persistent voices in his ear.

“After committing, the main school that has really tried has been Colorado,” Duncum told Rivals. “They really want me to come on an official visit during the season. I have been on multiple calls with the coaching staff during fall camp.”

Those calls have included plenty of conversations with Sapp, who has impressed Duncum with both his football resume and his recruiting approach. “Coach Sapp definitely is a great coach and one of the best ever to ever play,” Duncum said. “The coaching staff there definitely intrigues me. They have some really impressive players and it’s really nice in Colorado.”

Sapp’s Hall of Fame career began at Miami in the early 1990s, where he became one of the most dominant interior defenders in college football. He was drafted 12th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1995 and was a four-time First Team All-Pro, Super Bowl champion under Jon Gruden, and finished with 96.5 career sacks before being enshrined in Canton in 2013.

After years in television, Sapp joined Sanders’ Colorado staff in 2024 as a quality control analyst and was promoted to pass rush coordinator this offseason. The new role not only gives him a bigger voice on the field but also places him directly in the recruiting game, which is a challenge he’s embraced.

While Duncum says he’s still “happy” with his Kentucky commitment, Sapp’s pursuit is a reminder that recruiting battles rarely end with a verbal pledge.