Deion Sanders and Colorado Football are coming. They’re coming for the Big 12 and they’re coming for a 5-star QB from the class of 2025. And if it’s not Julian Lewis, the QB Shedeur Sanders specifically wants to replace himcould be Alabama Keelon Russell.

Yes. Coach Prime goes next Crimson Tide’s Jalen Milroe successor. Sanders is picking the bones of an Alabama team that just lost to Vanderbilt, aiming to capitalize on Colorado’s current momentum.

Coach Prime isn’t afraid of anyone. Certainly not Kalen DeBoer, who has lost his fan base with his clothing. Sanders doesn’t agree with it. He has Buffs fans don his cowboy hat, sunglasses and gold chain in the stands of Folsom Field.

Sanders isn’t afraid of Nick Saban either. Saban still has a salary with the Crimson Tide and has an office at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The GOAT college football coach is still heavily involved in the recruiting process in Tuscaloosa. Not like it used to be, but it still is.

Coach Prime comes for the top dogs of the top dogs. Flipping Lewis from USC would be a statement, but flipping Russell from Alabama would signal a seismic shift in the sport.

Sanders has talked about the unfortunate reality of modern recruitmentbut at the collegiate level he is essentially only recruited that way. Coach Prime’s first year as HC, at Jackson State, came during a pandemic-shortened 2020 season, played in the spring of 2021.

Sanders can say he empathizes with the Sabans of the world who have seen the game pass them by, but he is not one of that old guard. Coach Prime is the perfect example of how to navigate this new, fast-paced world of quick flips and transfers.

Flipping Russell would be the clearest proof of that concept.