In recent years, there have been quite a few longstanding NCAA rules that have changed.
Colorado’s Deion Sanders would love to see another one altered.
CU’s annual spring game is slated for April 19 at Folsom Field. It was announced Monday that the Black & Gold game would be at 2:30 p.m. and televised on ESPN2.
As usual, it will be an intrasquad scrimmage, but Sanders would love to see spring games become competition between two different teams.
“I’d like to play against another team in the spring,” he said. “That’s what I’m trying to do right now, to have it competitive. Playing against your own guys kind of gets monotonous, and you really can’t tell the level of your guys, because it’s the same old, same way. Everybody kind of knows each other towards the end.”
It’s highly unlikely to happen this year, as current NCAA rules do not allow teams to hold joint practices or scrimmages. It’s common in the NFL, though, to have two teams come together in training camp, practice with each other for a few days and then play a preseason game.
Sanders, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who has built a lot of areas of CU’s program with the pro model in mind, would love to see the change.
“I would like to style it like the pros,” he said. “I would like to practice against someone for a few days then you have the spring game. I think the public will be satisfied with that tremendously. I think it’s a tremendous idea.”
He’s not alone in that thinking. Syracuse head coach Fran Brown reacted to a social media post about Sanders’ comments by writing, “Deion Sanders we will come to Boulder for 3 days.”
Reporter Carl Reed, who is a friend of Sanders’, posted Monday afternoon that he spoke with Sanders about the idea. Reed reported that Sanders would like to play a spring game against North Carolina, now coached by long-time New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
While Sanders wants to enhance the spring game experience, several other programs around the country – such as LSU, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas and USC – have elected to not hold a spring game at all.
“We’ve got to sell this thing out (on April 19) and pack this thing because the way the trend is going, you never know if this is going to be the last spring game,” Sanders said. “I don’t believe in that. I don’t really want to condone that. I would like to play the spring.”
Colorado defensive back Travis Hunter speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
#### Big 12 pro day
The Big 12 Conference will hold its second annual pro day for NFL draft hopefuls Tuesday through Friday at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
There are 13 former Buffs scheduled to take part, including Sanders’ sons, Shedeur and Shilo. Receivers Jimmy Horn Jr., Travis Hunter, Will Sheppard and LaJohntay Wester; defensive linemen BJ Green and Chidozie Nwankwo; defensive backs Travis Jay, Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig and Herman Smith; offensive lineman Justin Mayers; and punter Mark Vassett are also slated the attend.
“I’m actually trying to attend that pro day to support a multitude of our players that’s going to participate,” Sanders said. “Some won’t. They may attend, but some won’t (participate), because they’re going to save it for our pro day.”
CU is having its pro day on April 4 and Sanders said it might be televised on the NFL Network.
“I’m excited about that,” he said. “I really am, because I know all 32 teams will be represented here. It’s going to be phenomenal for our program.”
#### Webb-Walker update
Sanders gave an update on defensive end Nikhil Webb-Walker, who was diagnosed with Lymphoma in October and has been receiving treatment.
“(He is) finishing his final phase of chemotherapy treatment in Boston, and then he’ll meet with his doctors about the next step,” Sanders said. “I’m very excited about that. We love him, we appreciate him, and we’re praying for him and his family, immensely.”