University of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has a penchant for rubbing some people the wrong way.
One of those Deion seems to have affronted is former Buffaloes defensive back Xavier Smith, who recently told The Athletic that the boisterous head coach was “destroying guys’ confidence and belief in themselves” with the callous way he was encouraging players to enter the transfer portal — a claim his son Shedeur Sanders took offense to.
“[I don’t] even remember him [to be honest],” Shedeur tweeted. “Bro had to be very mid at best.”
Smith disclosed that when he was encouraged to transfer, it was actually defensive coordinator Charles Kelly who did most of the talking.
During his time at Colorado, Smith said he felt like “an extra in the background of a reality show,” stating he couldn’t catch Deion’s attention when he was only getting second-team reps.
Notably, Xavier Smith went on to earn FCS Freshman All-American honors playing DB at Austin Peay while Colorado finished 127th nationally in passing defense and 98th in coverage grade.
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) April 30, 2024
Even if he didn't start, hard to argue he wouldn't have provided quality depth as a freshman. https://t.co/5dABabLeme
“(Deion) said he felt like I should hit the portal,” Smith told The Athletic. “He didn’t want me to waste a year thinking I could earn a spot. I was actually getting mad, like tears coming to my eyes. Because, bro, you never even tried to get to know me.”
After leaving Colorado, Smith transferred to Austin Peay and then again to UTEP. He logged 75 tackles, seven pass break ups, five tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble during his lone year with the Governors.
Smith, a redshirt sophomore, was a former three-star recruit in the class of 2022. He committed to Colorado over offers from other schools including Army, Liberty, Middle Tennessee State and Tennessee State.
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