Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes walks the field before the game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Colorado Buffaloes at Amon G. Carter Stadium on September 2, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Coach Prime and Deion Sanders might be trouble for Matt Rhule and Nebraska Saturday. If I said that one week ago many of you would have laughed at me. After all, Sanders rolled into Boulder and fired the entire Colorado Buffaloes team. Then he brought in 87 new players from the transfer portal and freshman enrollees. And half of those new kids arrived AFTER the spring game. Even if the players turned out to be good, they had never taken one snap together in a live game. Football takes time and practice to gel 11 players into a cohesive unit. Surely Colorado would be hard pressed to improve on their one win record from a year ago.
Nope.
Coach Prime, armed with his son Shedeur Sanders at quarterback and his other son Shilo Sanders at safety, buzzed into TCU and showed the NCAA champion runner-ups they meant business. Shedeur threw for a Colorado record 510 yard and 4 touchdowns, including the game winner with 4:25 left. Not bad for his first Power 5 football game. Brother Shilo added 10 tackles on the defensive side of the ball.
When the dust settled, Colorado had 4 receivers with more than 100 yards on their way to a 45-42 victory.
Oh, and let's not forget 5 star transfer Travis Hunter. Coach Prime brought him from Jackson, and he plays BOTH wide receiver and defensive back and had over 100 yards receiving and hauled in an interception.
Finally, brother Shilo added 10 tackles on the defensive side of the ball.
Nebraska, on the other hand, was excited about the season and new head coach Matt Rhule. Previous coach Scott Frost had gone 5-22 in one score games during his tenure. Surely, Rhule would fix all of that. Until he didn't. Not yet, anyway.
The Huskers opened the season with a 13-10 loss t0 Minnesota in a game they flat out gave away at the end. Dreams of heading into the Michigan game with a 4-0 record with Colorado, Northern Illinois, and Louisiana Tech coming up on the schedule are out the window. Even a 3-1 record looks challenging because Colorado is not who we thought Colorado was. Right?
If Coach Prime Deion Sanders and Colorado has a weakness, it could be defending the run.
TCU rushed for 262 yard and scored 42 points. Nebraska's run game is its strength. If QB Jeff Sims can take care of the ball, he's a pretty solid runner in the Huskers option attack. But he can't do it all. Running back Gabe Irvin rushed for 55 yards vs Minnesota, but he averages 8 yards per carry! So, logically they should give the ball to him more.
So, Coach Prime Deion Sanders might be trouble for Nebraska. But here's the bottom line:
If the game is high scoring, the Buffs will be 2-0. If it is low scoring, Matt Rhule and the Huskers get their first win.
Best Names in College Football
What is in a name? This is a question that has been pondered for years. It could mean a standard to live up to. It could mean a less than stellar tradition. Or it could also make you laugh. And not in a disrespectful way. College Football has a history of great names, but the 2023 batch is a really good list. Ranker.com has listed the 50 funniest names in college football from the 2022 season. I thought it'd be fun to take their list and build off it with college football's best names for the 2023 season. There will be no discrimination here. Power 5 or MAC players, if your name is funny it stands on it's own. Your conference's television contract won't gain you any preferential treatment. The barometer is making me laugh, not where you play or how good you are.
Some of the best names in college football that we lost from 2022 to 2023 include Tank Bigsby, Thunder Justice-Keck, and Boogie Knight. For what it's worth Thunder Justice-Keck is an all-time name and should be signed by a CFL or XFL team based on the name alone. Some of the highly rated prospects coming out of high school stick out early in the recruiting process. Whether it's funny or just unique, a name that stands out seems to elevate to profile around a prospect. I'm looking at you, General Booty. The season is still a ways away, but let's start looking at the best names in college football for the 2023 season.
General Booty (QB, Oklahoma)
The most famous third-string quarterback in college football. He has a deal with Rock ‘Em Socks producing branded socks and underwear, the boxer briefs say “Booty” across the back.
Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB, Alabama)
Not just a fun name. He is considered to be a top cornerback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Pig Cage (CB, UTSA)
Transferred from LSU. Parents are Quincy and Yvonne Cage
Decoldest Crawford (WR, Nebraska)
Decoldest Crawford has the “perfect NIL deal” with Omaha-based SOS Heating & Cooling. We should be seeing a new ad soon.
Storm Duck (CB, Louisville)
Originally he transferred to Penn State, but after Spring Ball he then transferred to Louisville.
Shitta Sillah (DE, Boston College)
Played one game last year, then had season ending surgery.
Boobie Curry (WR, Buffalo)
Made Sauce Gardener's list for Sauciest names in college football. The Thai Curry sauce.
Phat Watts (WR, Tulane)
His real name is Nataurean. But I like Phat.
Major Burns (S, LSU)
Third season with LSU. Major is majoring in Sports Administration.
Squirrel White (WR, Tennessee)
Not his 'real' name. Nickname originated from his great grandmother, who called him "Squirrel" as an infant after he moved simultaneously with a squirrel in her garden.
Juice Wells (WR, South Carolina)
Transfer from James Madison. Now a starter for the Gamecocks.
Fish McWilliams (DT, UAB)
Fun name and a solid player. He has been named to the 2023 #BednarikAward watch list.
Kavosiey Smoke (RB, Colorado)
Since everyone pronounces his first name wrong, he'd rather people just call him 'smoke'.
Steele Chambers (LB, Ohio State)
Came to Ohio State as a running back, but switched to linebacker.
Chief Borders (LB, Nebraska)
Linebacker Chief Borders spent two seasons at the University of Florida before transferring to Nebraska. It really seems like a lot of guys on this list are transfers.
Buck Coors (DB, Wyoming)
The fourth-year sophomore is finally healthy after enduring five surgeries since arriving in the program as a walk-on.
Tiger Shanks (OL, UNLV)
Tiger Shanks is Canadian. Has a sister named Maria.
Demon Clowney (DE, Ole Miss)
Recognize that last name. His cousin is Jadeveon Clowney.
Power Echols (LB, UNC)
Living up to that name. Honorable Mention All-ACC (2022)
Hero Kanu (DT, Ohio State)
Didn't just play for Ohio State at Indiana, but registered a sack, too.
Blazen Lono-Wong (DL, Arizona State)
This big DL had choices. Lono-Wong turned down offers from Hawaii and Boise State.
Rowdy Beers (TE, FIU)
Wrap it up with a Florida player. Rowdy is committed to FIU as a TE.
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