Since Deion Sanders took over as head football coach, it’s been smooth sailing for the Colorado Buffaloes football program, but that hit a snag this week when 2024 commit Omar White was charged with three felonies in connection to a shooting in Georgia.
According to the Valdosta Daily Times, on March 3rd, detectives from the Valdosta Police Department obtained arrest warrants on White for felony aggravated assault, felony aggravated battery, and felony possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
The charges were filed for Omar White’s alleged connection to two February 26th shootings, which saw one 16-year-old and two 17-year-olds rushed to South Georgia Medical center for treatment of their wounds. Fortunately, all three boys have been treated for their injuries and have been released from the hospital.
Those same charges have also been filed against 20-year-old Zontavious Sipplen, with the addition of an extra felony aggravated assault charge.
While individuals have been charged in this case, it’s important to remember, especially in the case of 17-year-old Omar White, who is still a minor, that all these individuals are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
This will be an interesting early test of Coach Prime’s coaching ethics, and as a result, will be a situation for all fans of the Colorado Buffaloes to monitor as it develops.
Throughout the early stages of his hiring, Coach Prime consistently underlined his desire to find players with strong character who would bring a positive presence to the Boulder campus.
“These young men are going to be on campus respectful and considerate and kind, opening doors for you and making sure everything is copacetic,” Prime said during his introductory press conference for the Colorado Buffaloes. “And they’re gonna say ‘yes sir’ and ‘no sir’, ‘yes ma’am’ and ‘no ma’am’ or they’re going to have to deal with me. That’s just the way I father, that’s the way I parent, that’s the way I coach.”
🗣️ Coach Prime pushing the next generation forward #SkoBuffs pic.twitter.com/9AvlyBvYSx
— Mile High Sports (@MileHighSports) March 7, 2023
However, Deion Sanders’ coaching values haven’t been publicly tested yet as the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, until now.
This case, of course, still has to be tried. No one has been found guilty of any wrongdoing at this time.
However, that doesn’t mean this situation isn’t worth monitoring as it develops. How does Coach Prime respond to a highly coveted recruit facing serious accusations?
Boulder doesn’t know yet, and this is their first opportunity at answers.
White is a 4-Star recruit ranked as the No. 1 commit in the Buffs’ 2024 recruiting class.