It has been a rough week for Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes. About everything that could go wrong in the first week of the offseason did go wrong. Coaches have been leaving the program. Recruits from 2024 and 2025 are decommitting from the program. Then there’s the transfer portal which Colorado has already lost some key players to. Another one is going to test his luck in the portal. Running back Anthony Hankerson announced he is entering the transfer portal.
BREAKING: Colorado RB Anthony Hankerson plans to enter the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3sports
The 5’9 200 RB from Boynton Beach, FL had 146 Carries for 593 yards & 5 Total TDs for the Buffs
Will have 2 years of eligibility remaining https://t.co/gkZ3ifUJSR pic.twitter.com/dC9lB9Vyzy
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 3, 2023
Deion Sanders, Colorado Buffaloes Lose RB Anthony Hankerson
Hankerson played a role in Colorado’s offense this season. He had 146 carries for 593 yards and five total touchdowns. He enters the portal with two years of eligibility left. Hankerson had this to say in a statement.
“First off I want to thank the man above for giving me the opportunity to play the game I love and for guiding me through this journey. I want to thank all the coaches and buffs I’ve met here during my time at CU. Thank you for all the relationships created here on and off the field.
With that being said, I have decided to enter the transfer portal with 2 years of eligibility left.”
As Sanders and his staff look to build a roster that can improve on the 2023 season, they are starting to have some significant holes to fill.
Replenishing The Roster
Sanders is going to have a tough time replenishing the roster. No doubt he and his staff are going to add some talent through the transfer portal but it is concerning that so many players are exiting. The real question is why they are exiting. Players are entering the transfer portal from all programs so it could just be the normal movement of the college football landscape. However, if they are leaving because of a dislike of the Colorado program, that is a concern.
Sanders has his work cut out for him. He knows there is pressure in 2024 and the Colorado program will be under enormous pressure to win.