Deion Sanders. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Deion Sanders, Colorado hype reminiscent of recent coaching failure

By Ethan Petrik | Last updated 1/24/23

The excitement surrounding the start of Deion Sanders' head coaching tenure at Colorado is at a mind-numbing level. In fact, it's reminiscent of another recent splashy coaching hire: Nebraska after it hired Scott Frost in 2017.

Following the Colorado commitment of Cormani McClain, a five-star recruit and No. 1 cornerback in the class of 2023, a new wave of outlandish media takes hit the Internet and social media. Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt, a Colorado alum, may have the most outlandish.

“I fully expect, in year two under Deion Sanders at Colorado, that they are competing as a top two or three team in the [Pac-12],” Klatt said. “Which means they are competing for the conference crown. Which means they are competing for a chance to go to the college football playoff.”

"Now every single recruit in the country regardless of how high level they are, Colorado is in their top 5."@joelklatt gives praise to @CUBuffsFootball's @DeionSanders for landing No. 1 CB Cormani McClain ⬇️

(Via @JoelKlattShow)

pic.twitter.com/NQBWuVQFEU
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 23, 2023

Colorado was 1-11 in 2022 and hasn't had a winning season since 2016.

For Nebraska fans, this hype train is eerily familiar.

In December 2017, Nebraska landed Frost, a celebrity coach in his own right. He was fresh off a double-digit win season at Central Florida, a lower-tier program. Sanders, a first-time Power Five head coach, is coming off a three-year stint at HBCU Jackson State, where he went 27-6.

Frost almost immediately took Nebraska’s recruiting to the next level despite the Huskers finishing the previous season with a 4-8 record. In his first season, he recruited the 23rd-best class nationally and fifth in the Big Ten, per 247Sports.

Sanders' first recruiting class is ranked 29th nationally and fifth in Pac-12, per 247Sports.

Frost brought in 28 transfers during his tenure. Despite that haul and his hyped initial recruiting success, Frost never had winning record in his five seasons at his alma mater. In September 2022, Nebraska fired him.

The comparison between Nebraska under Frost and Colorado under Sanders is not apples to apples. However, enough similarities are popping up to cast doubt on how quickly Sanders can turn around the Buffs.

Of course, Klatt could end up correct about his alma mater, but let's beware of over-hyping a first-year Power 5 head coach before we see the on-field product.

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