Feb. 22, 2026, 5:03 a.m. MT
Deion Sanders does not get to play a spring game against another program, but he found another way to add intrigue to the program’s annual showcase.
The Colorado Buffaloes held a spring football draft last week, during which the program’s leaders split up to select teams. One team, led by cornerback RJ Johnson, tight ends Brady Kopetz and Zach Atkins, surprised the room by selecting true freshman quarterback Kaneal Sweetwyne with the top pick instead of quarterback Julain Lewis. Safety Ben Finneseth, linebacker Bo LaPenna and running back DeKalon Taylor lead the second team, with them selecting Lewis with the No. 2 overall pick.
Johnson’s team also selected running back Richard Young, wide receiver Kam Perry and freshman four-star linebacker Carson Crawford. Standout players on Finneseth’s squad include wide receiver Danny Scudero, linebacker Gideon Lampron and running back Damian Henderson II.
Sanders spoke to the program after the selection process, explaining the new spring ball outlook.
“Some days, we’re not gonna change jerseys. Some days, we’re gonna have an all-team day,” Sanders told the squad. “You’re going to go out there in the color of your team. That’s how we’re gonna get down. From the jump, it’s gonna be like that. It’s gonna be this side over here, this color, that’s how we stretch. The whole day is gonna be competitive, and we’re gonna go at it. From 1-on-1 to inside run, we’re keeping score, we’re keeping count of everything.”
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Clearly, Sanders is changing his philosophy following a 3-9 2025 season that saw his program severely lack player leadership. Spring camp is really the only time a college football program can go fully into culture-building mode without the stress of preparing for games. The team’s first approach is refreshing to see for a CU program that seemed to miss accountability a year ago.
The two drafted teams will get the first chance to go at each other on March 2, the first day of spring practice. A few weeks later, on April 11, Colorado will play its annual spring game, where both teams will partake in a glorified scrimmage at Folsom Field.
Spring camp is an exciting time for Deion Sanders’ Buffs with so many new faces and plenty of position battles to be won.
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