Jalen Ramsey Points Out What Makes Deion Sanders Different
Jalen Ramsey Points Out What Makes Deion Sanders Different
A few Colorado Buffaloes heard from NFL cornerback Jalen Ramsey about what makes Coach Prime different during their summer leadership retreat.Liam Howard|
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Colorado BuffaloesThe Colorado Buffaloes took a leadership retreat to coach Deion Sanders’s Texas ranch during the final week of June. Transfer Buffs and returning players used the time to build chemistry and learn from some of the top influences in the football world.
Those influences, of course, included Coach Prime himself, but also an important guest speaker. NFL cornerback and safety Jalen Ramsey spoke to the team, giving the players career advice and helping put their circumstances into perspective. Part of that included telling the players how lucky they are to have the unique experience of learning under Coach Prime and his staff.
What Jalen Ramsey said about Deion Sanders and his staff
One of the themes most consistent in Ramsey’s conversation with the players was the reminder of how unique their situation is. Playing for arguably the greatest cornerback to ever play the game is an uncommon benefit, to say the least, and Ramsey told the players how they can use those circumstances to shape how they play.
“Being in the presence of greatness, you can’t really pay any of these coaches back for any of that,” said Ramsey to Colorado players in a YouTube video posted by Well Off Media. “The only way you can pay somebody back for that is by being yourself in a respectful way, but also by the way that you play for them…That [greatness] isn’t normal…it isn’t like that anywhere else.”
As a three-time first-team All-Pro, an eight-time Pro Bowler, a National Champion in college and a Super Bowl Champion in the NFL, Ramsey has had about as ideal a career path as a football player could ask for. Still, he even claimed that he wouldn’t have ended up at Florida State had a staff like Colorado’s existed during his college career.
How the Colorado Buffaloes’ leaders feel about Deion Sanders
Colorado’s players were receptive to Ramsey’s advice. Several players present at the retreat chimed in on the differences they’ve noticed between Coach Prime and any other coach they’ve played under.
A pair of SEC transfers in former Texas Longhorns wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. and former Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Bo Hughley spoke about the differences in coaching relationships they’ve seen since joining the Buffs.
They claimed they hadn’t been able to be themselves or form close relationships with their coaches at their former stops, and that it was a hindrance to their play and personal lives. Since arriving in Boulder, that hasn’t been a worry of theirs, as they’ve formed tight bonds with Coach Prime and other members of the staff.
Freshman offensive lineman Xavier Payne gave his thoughts on the Buffs’ unique closeness with their head coach as well. Although this is his first season at the college level, Payne still identified how unique an experience like Coach Prime’s leadership retreat is.
As the team takes shape ahead of the 2026 season, the retreat, as well as what the players learned from Ramsey, will play major roles in their chemistry. Sanders’s players are bought in, and the program’s leadership appears to have made great strides since 2025.
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LIAM HOWARDLiam Howard is a Colorado Buffaloes On SI beat reporter and a men’s basketball beat writer and sportscaster for Sko Buffs Sports. A Longmont, Colorado native, he has built a diverse portfolio across sports media, with experience in broadcast production, graphic design, and documentary storytelling. Known for his detailed coverage of college athletics, Howard is also the founder and host of SBS Football Live, where he provides thoughtful analysis and original reporting.
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Transfer Rumors: Real Madrid Plot Saliba Move; Van Dijk Nears Liverpool Exit
Transfer Rumors: Real Madrid Plot Saliba Move; Van Dijk Nears Liverpool Exit
Lisandro Martínez, Sandro Tonali, Julián Álvarez and Aurélien Tchouaméni all feature in the gossip.SI FC Staff|
Sports Illustrated rounds up the latest transfer rumors and gossip from around the world.
Premier League
AC Milan manager Ruben Amorim wants a new center back and has already made contact with both Manchester United’s Lisandro Martínez and Sporting CP’s Gonçalo Inácio. (Source: Antonio Vitiello)
Galatasaray are “very close” to wrapping up the signing of Liverpool center back Virgil van Dijk. (Source: Fotomaç)
Tottenham Hotspur are increasingly confident of signing Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, having agreed to meet his price tag of $132 million (£100 million) and wage demands of close to $397,000 (£300,000) per week. (Source: TEAMtalk)
However, Tonali would still prefer to join either Arsenal or Manchester City. (Source: Luke Edwards)
Man City have now joined the race for Tonali to try and bolster the squad for new manager Enzo Maresca. (Source: Chronicle Live)
Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers is the top priority for Arsenal, who are now ready to make an offer of close to $172 million (£130 million) to get a deal over the line. (Source: Fichajes)
Leaving Arsenal could be striker Viktor Gyökeres, who does not see eye-to-eye with manager Mikel Arteta and is ready to force an exit from the Gunners to try and seal a switch to Barcelona worth $68 million (€60 million, £52 million). (Source: El Nacional)
Chelsea and Tottenham are both interested in Monaco striker Folarin Balogun, but Paris Saint-Germain have now joined the race for the USMNT international as a replacement for Gonçalo Ramos. (Source: Foot Mercato)
Arsenal are expected to face no issues agreeing personal terms with Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimarães, but the Magpies remain adamant they will not entertain an exit for the Brazilian. (Source: The Athletic)
Chelsea want a homegrown veteran to operate as third-choice goalkeeper this season and have made contact with Jason Steele of Brighton & Hove Albion. (Source: Si Phillips)
Beşiktaş have agreed a $23 million (€20 million, £17 million) fee with Arsenal to sign winger Leandro Trossard, who must now decide whether or not to accept the move. (Source: Sporx)
Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd are all interested in signing Japanese midfielder Kaishu Sano from Mainz. (Source: Nikkan Sports)
Aston Villa have reached an agreement over personal terms with Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes if they need a replacement for Emiliano Martínez. (Source: Les Violets)
Meanwhile, Aston Villa and Fulham have both asked about the availability of Bournemouth winger Marcus Tavernier, who is also on Liverpool’s radar. (Source: TEAMtalk)
La Liga
Barcelona have abandoned their dream of signing Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who has made it clear he has no desire to make such a move. (Source: MARCA)
The focus remains on Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez, and Barcelona are ready to offer left back Alejandro Balde and midfielder Marc Casadó to try to sweeten the deal, but Atlético do not want to sell and have made it clear any offers must be cash only. (Source: Mundo Deportivo)
Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has requested the signing of Arsenal center back William Saliba. Talks have been held but the Gunners are refusing to negotiate for anything below $171 million (€150 million, £129 million). (Source: Fichajes)
Selling a midfielder is a priority for Real Madrid but, with Eduardo Camavinga refusing to leave, Los Blancos are now open to offers for Man Utd target Aurélien Tchouaméni. (Source: The Athletic)
Camavinga, Álvaro Carreras and Dean Huijsen will all be sold to raise funds for a new bid for Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise that could reach $243 million (€213 million). (Source: El Nacional)
Barcelona have informed Mallorca winger Jan Virgili that he will be brought back to the club this summer if any of their current forwards are sold. (Source: Barça Universal)
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NBA Cup championship game moving to Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse next season
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Kawhi Back To Toronto?LeBron To Leave LakersJaylen Brown Trade MarketReid’s Timberwolves LegacyNBA Cup championship game moving to Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse next season
The Spurs and Knicks faced off in last year's NBA Cup final. Kirby Lee / Getty Images
By The Athletic StaffJune 30, 2026 Updated 7:11 pm EDTLeaving Las Vegas? The NBA Cup championship game is doing exactly that.
After being held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for its first three years, the championship game for the league’s in-season tournament will be held in Indianapolis at Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse next season, the league announced Tuesday. The game is set for Friday, Dec. 11.
Before last season’s NBA Cup final in December, commissioner Adam Silver said the league was considering moving the final in the future. He added that “some storied college arenas” were suggested in conversations with Amazon Prime, which broadcasts NBA Cup games as part of the most recent media rights deal. The league announced in September that the semifinals of the in-season tournament would be held at home sites. In years past, those also took place in Las Vegas.
The New York Knicks won last year’s NBA Cup, beating the San Antonio Spurs in the final. Six months later, they won their first NBA championship in 53 years by beating the Spurs again.
This story will be updated.
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