Colorado's Deion Sanders is unable to attend his first Media Day as a Pac-12 coach.
Sanders will not be at the event Friday in Las Vegas due to ongoing health issues. He said Wednesday that he was scheduled to undergo two surgeries: one to straighten two toes on his left foot and ease pain caused by shoes, and one to remove blood clots from his right leg.
"You can't stop my mobility, first and foremost, and that don't stop my ability. My ability is God-given, you cannot touch that. You can delay it, but not touch it," Sanders said on "Thee Pregame Show" YouTube program.
MORE: Deion Sanders on why he won't coach in NFL: 'I would be too tough'
Here's what you need to know about his replacement, Charles Kelly, who will now be accompanying quarterback Shedeur Sanders and cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter to Media Day.
Why is Deion Sanders not at Pac-12 Media Day?
Sanders is missing Pac-12 Media Day to address ongoing health issues. The Colorado athletic department said in a statement (posted to Twitter by ESPN's Heather Dinich) that Coach Prime would be undergoing a "routine follow-up procedure" on July 20, the day before the scheduled appearances of the conference's coaches in Las Vegas.
Just received this statement from @CUBuffsFootball pic.twitter.com/H0toYrRhiH
— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) July 19, 2023
Sanders said in an Instagram post that he would miss the media event as he recovers from the procedure, which was to remove a blood clot in his right leg and straighten two hammer toes.
Kelly, standing in for Sanders at Pac-12 Media Day, said the procedure went well.
"Everything's good," Kelly told ESPN. "I texted him before he had the procedure done and after it was done. He said everything went good."
Sanders said he will coaching the Buffaloes vs. TCU in Week 1, something Kelly reiterated in Las Vegas:
"His whole thing was he wanted to be full go by the time we started fall camp," Kelly said. "So, he had to do it. I know he hates that he missed (Pac-12 Media Day), but we need him full go."
Deion Sanders health issues
Sanders, 55, has been dealing with circulation problems in his feet for years.
He was hospitalized in 2021 for complications from an attempt to repair a dislocated toe. He had two toes removed after experiencing blood clots, according to ESPN.
Amputation has been considered because of Sanders' chronic circulation issues. Sanders has said that he does not have feeling in the bottom of his left foot. But the procedure is not currently on the table as doctors continue to pursue strategies to heal the foot and allow Sanders to keep it.
Who is Charles Kelly?
Kelly is Colorado's defensive coordinator under Deion Sanders.
Kelly has been coaching since 1990, when he was an assistant Central High School in Phenix City, Ala. He has coached at nine different colleges, including his alma mater, Florida State; Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Tech.
