Shedeur Sanders shines, new transfers step up in Colorado’s spring game

The rain and the cold couldn't dampen the demeanor of Deion Sanders.

The cowboy hat-wearing coach of the Colorado Buffaloes was in a feel-good mood during the spring game Saturday at Folsom Field.

Before the game, he awarded a scholarship to a hard-working running back. Before kickoff, he pledged a bowl game to a 99-year-old super-fan in the stands. And before retreating out of the rain, he watched some new transfer-portal additions step up and saw a receiver-turned-cornerback-turned-tailback shine.

On top of it all, his QB son, Shedeur, looked sharp in front of a respectable crowd given the weather.

'We already know what we had," Deion Sanders said. "But it was a good display of talent, I believe."

Running back Charlie Offerdahl had a day he won't soon forget, even if he didn't play a snap due to an intestinal ailment. In the locker room before the game, Sanders gathered the team together, along with Offerdahl's family, and presented the junior with a scholarship.

The team erupted in applause.

"Unbelievable," Offerdahl said of the moment. "It's a blessing."

It set the tone for the day.

Just before the game started, Sanders grabbed a microphone and gave a shout-out to Peggy Coppom, the longtime supporter of the Buffaloes who last spring kicked off — with Sanders' assistance — to begin the game. This time, Coppom, who turns 100 in November, was in the stands and Sanders looked her direction to say: "We're going to get you to a bowl game, baby."

Sanders is trying to lead the Buffaloes to their first winning record in a full season since 2016 (they were 4-2 in 2020).

His roster, though, has a lot in common with the new scoreboard in the south end of the stadium — under construction.

Colorado picked up 31 players through the