When Deion Sanders addressed the Colorado team for the first time as head coach on Dec. 4, 2022, he told them all plain and simple how it would be. Not everyone in the room would be on the 2023 roster. Sanders made it clear there would be some turnover.
"We've got a few positions already taken care of because I'm bringing my luggage with me," Sanders said. "I'm coming. It ain't going to be no more of the mess that these wonderful fans, the student body and some of your parents have put up with for probably two decades now. I'm coming. And when I get here, there's going to be change."
That proved to be something of an understatement. Changes in the NCAA's policy allowing players one transfer at any time for immediate eligibility has led to something akin to free agency in college football as the transfer portal each year now boasts plenty of impact talent. And if those transfers were free agents, Sanders went spending.
No collegiate football team added more players through the transfer portal than Colorado, which added 49 transfers, according to On3, with 57 players leaving the program. The biggest names were 2022 No. 1 recruit Travis Hunter and four-star quarterback Shedeur Sanders, but through the portal, Sanders rebuilt a team that went 1-11 in 2022.
How does Colorado's roster look after all the turnover? Here's a look at the Buffaloes' roster after Sanders' transfer portal changes.
MORE: Meet Deion Sanders' sons and family tree
Colorado football depth chart
Here's a look at Colorado's depth chart for the 2023 college football season, according to CU Sports Nation's Nikki Edwards.
Transfer players are bolded.
Offense
| Position | First | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth | Sixth |
| Quarterback | Shedeur Sanders | Ryan Staub | Gavin Kuld | |||
| Running back | Dylan Edwards | Alton McCaskill | Anthony Hankerson | Kavosiey Smoke | Sy'veon Wilkerson | Charlie Offerdahl |
| Wide receiver 1 | Travis Hunter | Javon Antonio | Omarion Miller | |||
| Wide receiver 2 | Jimmy Horn Jr. | Tar'Varish Dawson | Adam Hopkins | |||
| Wide receiver 3 | Xavier Weaver | Cole Boscia | ||||
| Tight end | Michael Harrison | Elijah Yelverton | Caleb Fauria | |||
| Left tackle | Gerard Christian-Lichtenhan | Isaiah Jatta | ||||
| Left guard | Jack Bailey | Jack Witty | ||||
| Center | Van Wells | Landon Bebee | ||||
| Right guard | Landon Bebee | Jack Witty | Kareem Harden | |||
| Right tackle | Savion Washington | Reggie Young |
Defense
| Position | First | Second | Third | Fourth |
| Defensive end | Derrick McClendon | Taijh Alston | Sav'ell Smalls | |
| Defensive tackle 1 | Shane Cokes | Bishop Thomas | Amari McNeill | |
| Defensive tackle 2 | Leonard Payne Jr. | J.J. Hawkins | Chazz Wallace | |
| Outside linebacker | Khairi Manns | Arden Walker | Jordan Domineck | Taje McCoy |
| Inside linebacker | LaVonta Bentley | Demouy Kennedy | ||
| Inside linebacker | Marvin Ham II | Jeremiah Brown | Juwan Mitchell | |
| Nickle | Myles Slusher | Jaden Milliner-Jones | ||
| Cornerback 1 | Travis Hunter | Carter Stoutmire | Cormani McClain | |
| Safety 1 | Trevor Woods | Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig | Ben Finneseth | |
| Safety 2 | Shilo Sanders | Rodrick Ward | Jaden Milliner-Jones | |
| Cornerback 2 | Omarion Cooper | Kendrick Breedlove |
Special teams
| Position | First | Second | Third | Fourth |
| Punter | Mark Vassett | Jace Feely | Trent Carrizosa | |
| Kicker | Jace Feely | Alejandro Mata | Christiano Palazzo | |
| Snapper | Cameron Warchuck | Jacob Politte | ||
| Kick returner | Dylan Edwards | Xavier Weaver | Anthony Hankerson | Kendrick Breedlove |
| Punt returner | Jimmy Horn Jr. | Xavier Weaver |
Colorado transfer players 2023
Sanders overhauled the Buffaloes roster upon arriving in Colorado. According to On3, 49 players transferred to Colorado for the 2023 season. The next closest FBS school was Louisville with 27. A total of 57 players exited the Colorado program after the 2022 season. The next closest was Ole Miss with 35.
Colorado's entire defensive line room is comprised of transfers, as are six of the eight wide receivers. Half of the team's running backs are transfers. Of the 27 total starters between offense, defense and special teams, 18 arrived via the transfer portal.
Travis Hunter
The biggest prize of the transfer portal was Hunter, the No. 1 recruit in the 2022 class. A consensus five-star, Hunter was praised as a generational prospect with the ability to be both a standout wide receiver and cornerback, whichever position he wound up sticking with.
Instead, he proved in Week 1 and through his freshman season at Jackson State that he is capable of playing both positions at an extremely high level.
MORE: Hunter excelling playing both ways for Colorado
Shedeur Sanders
The next-highest transfer to go from Jackson State to Colorado was Shedeur Sanders. Deion Sanders' son, Shedeur Sanders was a four-star quarterback coming out of high school in the 2021 class, and found immediate success as a starter following his dad to Jackson State.
When Deion Sanders became Colorado's head coach, before Shedeur Sanders had even announced he'd be following his dad to Boulder, Deion Sanders had called Shedeur Sanders "your quarterback," though noting he would have to earn it. After throwing for more than 500 yards against TCU, it's clear to say Shedeur Sanders has sealed his claim to the starting role.
Shilo Sanders
The older of Deion Sanders' two sons to transfer from Jackson State to Colorado, Shilo Sanders is now on his third program. He had previously played at South Carolina after leaving Trinity Christian School as a three-star recruit in the 2019 class. He then transferred to Jackson State to join his dad in 2021.
Shilo Sanders is now off to Colorado, his second transfer destination. In his first game, Shilo Sanders tallied nine total tackles. Per PFF, he allowed four catches on six targets for 48 yards.
