University of Colorado Athletics
Media Day Notebook: 'We Have a Pretty Good Football Team'
August 15, 2026 | Football
BOULDER, Colo. — Nineteen days from the season opener, Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders held court at Friday's media day in the Touchdown Club at Dal Ward and delivered his own scouting report on the 2026 Buffaloes: smart, tough, fast and disciplined, with character.
"We have a pretty good football team," Sanders said. "I like what I'm seeing."
Asked to elaborate on his team's defining trait, Sanders didn't hesitate.
"Their smartness is the best character," he said. "These kids are smart and they're tough. They're really fast offensively, defensively, and they're disciplined. They're extremely disciplined."
Here's what else stood out from Friday's session.
Few Complaints, Position by Position
Sanders worked his way around the roster and found little to worry about. The linebackers are "probably the best position group on this team." His two cornerbacks? "Phenomenal. I think they're pros." The safeties drew the same word. The edge rushers "are going to be home."
Up front, he doubled down on what his offensive line staff said earlier this week about a possible rotation.
"I think we have eight guys to nine guys that could possibly start on the offensive line," Sanders said. "I think we have that much depth."
That included a story on second-year guard Chauncey Gooden, who apparently practiced this week under the impression that a dominant day would earn him out of conditioning.
"He was killing people in practice. And then when he found out that wasn't the deal, he was really hurt," Sanders said. "But I ran with him that day to comfort him a little bit. Chauncey's killing people."
Sanders hinted at surprises on the defensive line, too — without naming names.
"I don't want to call names, because then you guys will spotlight him and put pressure on them," Sanders said. "But there are some guys who have really made their presence felt."
Roster Math in the 5-for-5 Era
Sanders keeps a color-coded roster in his office and looks at it every day — different colors for each eligibility category. In the NCAA's new 5-for-5 world, he said, that board has never mattered more.
"You have to really think about that in recruiting, because you don't want to run guys off," Sanders said. "You don't want to just look at them and say, 'Okay, I'm not going to pick you up next year,' and that's not right. You really have to think about the moves you make when you're accumulating a roster right now, because it could hurt you."
At least one veteran has already done his own math. Fourth-year defensive back Randon Fontenette knows the extra year is there — and doesn't plan to touch it.
"It's always good to have something in your back pocket," Fontenette said. "But this is my last year of college. This is the season, and I'm going to declare. I want go out on top — go out on top of Coach Prime, be his draft pick, and see where it ends."
Boo's Homecoming, Round Two
Sanders called third-year defensive back Boo Carter the best athlete on the team, and he didn't stop there.
"Boo could be a pro this year for certain, but he's a bona fide top-five pick if it was another year," Sanders said. "This year, I feel like he would be a first-rounder when he puts it all on tape and does what he's capable of doing."
Carter, who arrived from Tennessee this offseason, said the pull toward Boulder predates the portal.
"I always thought about coming with Coach Prime," Carter said. "It was like my second home, basically. It's like I should have come from the get-go."
What Success Looks Like
Sanders' definition of a successful season started nowhere near the scoreboard. It started with graduation rates, with players finishing what they started, and with careers — "a six-figure career after football" for those whose playing days end here, and lasting ones for those who move on.
He also spoke of the program's enduring bond with the family of Dominiq Ponder.
"God bless Dom's parents. They checked in yesterday, and it always makes me smile when she texts, and we go back and forth," Sanders said. "I'm happy to have that relationship, but we don't want another incident like that. Then we want to win. We want to win profoundly."
Quick Hits
On his coordinators: Sanders praised the balance Brennan Marion and Chris Marve bring to his staff. "The personalities that they have complement me tremendously," he said, adding of Marion: "We drove back together from Colorado Springs, and we had a wonderful time just conversing with one another. I love him to life, man." On Marve: "He's always dotting his i's and crossing his t's, and he hears me. That's very important."
On the specialists: Sanders said the operation is in good shape but noted the snap and the kick belong to newcomers this
year. "Don't underestimate that," he said. "That's very important. That wins and loses games."
In the tight end room: Fifth-year tight end Brady Kopetz, a high school running back, is thriving in the Go-Go offense's fullback role — and offered a preview. "We will have a lot of deep passes this year, especially at the tight end position," Kopetz said. "Be ready for that."
Fall sports family: Sanders opened by celebrating CU's other fall programs — the soccer team's season-opening win over Colorado State, the volleyball team's preseason billing and the cross country squad's potential — and lobbied for the fall teams to promote one another's schedules. "I think that's vital, that we support one another," he said. "The ladies' teams are good."
And finally: Fourth-year receiver Danny Scudero has found his Boulder hobby. "I've been fishing a lot — I've been going fishing with Ben and Cree," Scudero said. "Both of them are going to say that they're the best fisherman on the team."
"We have a pretty good football team," Sanders said. "I like what I'm seeing."
Asked to elaborate on his team's defining trait, Sanders didn't hesitate.
"Their smartness is the best character," he said. "These kids are smart and they're tough. They're really fast offensively, defensively, and they're disciplined. They're extremely disciplined."
Here's what else stood out from Friday's session.
Few Complaints, Position by Position
Sanders worked his way around the roster and found little to worry about. The linebackers are "probably the best position group on this team." His two cornerbacks? "Phenomenal. I think they're pros." The safeties drew the same word. The edge rushers "are going to be home."
Up front, he doubled down on what his offensive line staff said earlier this week about a possible rotation.
"I think we have eight guys to nine guys that could possibly start on the offensive line," Sanders said. "I think we have that much depth."
That included a story on second-year guard Chauncey Gooden, who apparently practiced this week under the impression that a dominant day would earn him out of conditioning.
"He was killing people in practice. And then when he found out that wasn't the deal, he was really hurt," Sanders said. "But I ran with him that day to comfort him a little bit. Chauncey's killing people."
Sanders hinted at surprises on the defensive line, too — without naming names.
"I don't want to call names, because then you guys will spotlight him and put pressure on them," Sanders said. "But there are some guys who have really made their presence felt."
Roster Math in the 5-for-5 Era
Sanders keeps a color-coded roster in his office and looks at it every day — different colors for each eligibility category. In the NCAA's new 5-for-5 world, he said, that board has never mattered more.
"You have to really think about that in recruiting, because you don't want to run guys off," Sanders said. "You don't want to just look at them and say, 'Okay, I'm not going to pick you up next year,' and that's not right. You really have to think about the moves you make when you're accumulating a roster right now, because it could hurt you."
At least one veteran has already done his own math. Fourth-year defensive back Randon Fontenette knows the extra year is there — and doesn't plan to touch it.
"It's always good to have something in your back pocket," Fontenette said. "But this is my last year of college. This is the season, and I'm going to declare. I want go out on top — go out on top of Coach Prime, be his draft pick, and see where it ends."
Boo's Homecoming, Round Two
Sanders called third-year defensive back Boo Carter the best athlete on the team, and he didn't stop there.
"Boo could be a pro this year for certain, but he's a bona fide top-five pick if it was another year," Sanders said. "This year, I feel like he would be a first-rounder when he puts it all on tape and does what he's capable of doing."
Carter, who arrived from Tennessee this offseason, said the pull toward Boulder predates the portal.
"I always thought about coming with Coach Prime," Carter said. "It was like my second home, basically. It's like I should have come from the get-go."
What Success Looks Like
Sanders' definition of a successful season started nowhere near the scoreboard. It started with graduation rates, with players finishing what they started, and with careers — "a six-figure career after football" for those whose playing days end here, and lasting ones for those who move on.
He also spoke of the program's enduring bond with the family of Dominiq Ponder.
"God bless Dom's parents. They checked in yesterday, and it always makes me smile when she texts, and we go back and forth," Sanders said. "I'm happy to have that relationship, but we don't want another incident like that. Then we want to win. We want to win profoundly."
Quick Hits
On his coordinators: Sanders praised the balance Brennan Marion and Chris Marve bring to his staff. "The personalities that they have complement me tremendously," he said, adding of Marion: "We drove back together from Colorado Springs, and we had a wonderful time just conversing with one another. I love him to life, man." On Marve: "He's always dotting his i's and crossing his t's, and he hears me. That's very important."
On the specialists: Sanders said the operation is in good shape but noted the snap and the kick belong to newcomers this
year. "Don't underestimate that," he said. "That's very important. That wins and loses games."
In the tight end room: Fifth-year tight end Brady Kopetz, a high school running back, is thriving in the Go-Go offense's fullback role — and offered a preview. "We will have a lot of deep passes this year, especially at the tight end position," Kopetz said. "Be ready for that."
Fall sports family: Sanders opened by celebrating CU's other fall programs — the soccer team's season-opening win over Colorado State, the volleyball team's preseason billing and the cross country squad's potential — and lobbied for the fall teams to promote one another's schedules. "I think that's vital, that we support one another," he said. "The ladies' teams are good."
And finally: Fourth-year receiver Danny Scudero has found his Boulder hobby. "I've been fishing a lot — I've been going fishing with Ben and Cree," Scudero said. "Both of them are going to say that they're the best fisherman on the team."
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
TE
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ FootballTuesday, August 11
Thursday, August 06
Thursday, August 06
Thursday, August 06