BOULDER — Colorado’s Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders isn’t taking the Utah Utes lightly this week.
Despite the fact that Coach Prime’s 18th-ranked Buffaloes are 7-2 with a three-game win streak in hand while the Utes are 4-5 and have lost five in a row, Coach Prime believes his team will be facing a dangerous squad Saturday in their 10 a.m. game at Folsom Field (FOX).
That belief stems from his respect for Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, who is in his 20th year as the Utes’ head coach.
“He is one of the pillars of the Big 12 and he was like that with the Pac-12,” Coach Prime said. “He’s a true legend. What he’s done consistently at Utah is unbelievable. So I have not only respect but admiration for what he’s accomplished, and I would just wish my career could be a portion of what he’s accomplished and all the young men that he’s sent on to the NFL, as well as a better situation for themselves with the tools that he’s instilled in them.”
The Utes are no doubt struggling this season. Picked to win the Big 12 in the preseason media poll, Utah reached as high as No. 10 in the national rankings after opening with four wins. But injuries decimated the offense — especially at quarterback — and the Utes have lost five in a row.
Still, while the offense is mired in the mud, the Utah defense has been outstanding. The Utes lead the Big 12 in first downs defense (134), scoring defense (17.1 per game) and total defense (307.4), and they are second in the Big 12 in passing defense (175).
“They haven’t quit,” Coach Prime said. “They’re still tough, they’re still aggressive, they’re still stout defensively, they can still do some things that force you into some looks. You cannot take this team lightly. I don’t give a darn what their record is, as long as he’s over there on that sideline, you better be prepared for a tough game.”
Indeed, the Utes have been in every game they have played, thanks to their defense. Their last three losses have come by a combined total of 10 points, including last weekend’s 22-21 loss to BYU that saw the Cougars’ winning scoring drive kept alive by a controversial penalty.
But the Buffs are also playing good defense this year. CU is seventh in the league in scoring defense (22.6 per game) while leading the league in sacks (29) and red zone defense.
Meanwhile, the Buffs’ offense continues to roll at an impressive clip. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders leads the Big 12 in passing efficiency (163.1) and touchdown passes (24) and is second in passing yards (2,882). Two-way star Travis Hunter is tied for the league lead in touchdown receptions (9) and receptions per game (7.7) and is fourth in receiving yards (856).
Defensively, BJ Green II is sixth in sacks (5) and tied for third in tackles for loss (9) while Hunter is tied for fourth in passes defensed with nine.
If the Buffs win their last three regular season games, they will guarantee themselves a spot in the Dec. 7 Big 12 championship game. Their recent streak has them back in the national rankings and they are now considered a serious contender for a College Football Playoff spot.
Simply, they are back in the spotlight.
But Coach Prime continues to remind his players to block out the outside noise.
“We don’t have time for that honestly, because we know who we are, what we are, how we are, where we are going, and we know how to get there,” he said. “So we don’t listen to the outside noise. And that’s something that we prepare our young men for on a daily basis, not just with football, but with life. Stop allowing people to tell you who you are. Your actions, your consistency, your lifestyle should really tell them who you are, not a voice that’s oftentimes laced with a bit of jealousy and envy about what you accomplish.”
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Story by Neill Woelk, Contributing Editor for CUBuffs.com. Content courtesy of the University of Colorado at Boulder.