Have you noted? Deion Sanders has been quietly stacking up five-star talent since 2022. It all started with two-way star Travis Hunter at Jackson State. Then, CB Cormani McClain became his first big recruit at Boulder in 2023. And we also got OT Jordan Seaton (2024) and QB Julian Lewis (2025). Now, with only one high school commit in Colorado’s 2026 class, Coach Prime is putting more focus on the transfer portal. Big names like five-star receiver Cederian Morgan and linebacker Xavier Griffin are being targeted, and just this past Tuesday, the Buffaloes offered Zion Elee, a top talent. But when it comes to getting players to change their minds and commit to his team, that’s classic Prime Time—Deion is an expert at turning the tables and taking star players right from under rival coaches’ noses.
In the 2025 recruiting season, Sanders made big waves by getting top players to switch their commitments to Colorado. For example, quarterback Julian Lewis flipped from USC, defensive tackle Christian Hudson switched from UCF, wide receiver Adrian Wilson left Arizona State, and defensive back Antonio Branch Jr. decided against Penn State—all drawn by Sanders’ vision. Adding to this impressive list, a massive 335-pound lineman from DeShaun Foster’s UCLA program also made the switch to the Buffaloes.
This addition is key because the Buffs’ QB was sacked a whopping 94 times in the last 2 seasons. That’s why Coach Prime made it a top goal to bring in many big offensive linemen like Seaton and Zylon Crisler, and now, he’s adding to that strong list. On May 24th, the CU Buffs made a HUGE announcement: former UCLA offensive lineman Walker Andersen is now coming to Colorado. This massive 6’8″, 335-pound lineman didn’t play as a true freshman at UCLA but still has all four years of eligibility left.
This is tough news for DeShaun Foster and UCLA. Since Nico Iamaleava joined UCLA, the team has been losing its well-known quarterback names like Joey Aguilar and Dermaricus Davis. Now, with their offensive linemen leaving too, their offense is looking like a big question mark.
But for Walker, “Nothing feels better than proving yourself right.”
Nothing feels better than proving yourself right#Committed pic.twitter.com/MTrC10uR3v
— Walker Andersen (@walker_And_) May 24, 2025
On the other hand, Deion Sanders is getting a lot of positive attention for his recruiting. While he’s known for his unique ways, like focusing on the transfer portal and doing fewer off-campus visits, his strategy is paying off. In the 2024 transfer cycle, Colorado saw many players leave (over 40 departures), and in the 2025 cycle, they’ve signed 28 transfers after losing 33 players. But now, things are looking up! Andersen is Colorado’s 27th transfer pickup this year, which is really building their momentum. Because of this, the Buffaloes are ranked No. 23 in On3’s Transfer Portal Rankings—showing how smart they are at building a strong team through transfers, rather than just high school recruits.
What’s interesting is that Walker Andersen’s huge size fits perfectly with what Coach Gunnar White wants. The UCLA transfer might need a year to get better before playing regularly, but his natural physical abilities are undeniable. Speaking during spring practice, White explained what he looks for in offensive linemen from the transfer portal.
“Athletes and size, right? In order to run the ball, not only do you have to be powerful, but you have to be athletic, too, to change up the schemes—if you want to pull a guard or pull a tackle or whatnot. And then we try to get length on the edge, too. So my philosophy is that if you get tackles, tackles can easily screw down inside. They can go for guards. You don’t see 6-foot-6 people just walking around the Earth anyway; they are hard to find, much less that are strong and are fast and have great bend and can run, too. That is part of the molding and development part of it.”
It’s safe to say that Andersen checks many of those boxes—he’s a giant with athletic potential who could really change the game once he’s fully developed. Getting this 335-pound giant from UCLA made college football fans completely change their minds about Deion Sanders—they went from doubting him to believing in him. Social media was full of praise, with fans calling Prime “the portal king” and saying his recruiting efforts are unmatched.
Deion Sanders is building a powerhouse, one flip at a time.
As a top player from El Dorado High in Placentia, Walker Andersen didn’t just play; he truly dominated, earning 3 varsity letters in football and even one in track & field. Andersen’s high school awards include First-team All-CIF Division 7, league Lineman of the Year, and a spot in the Orange County All-Star game. Now, with four years of eligibility still remaining, he’s a game-changer for Colorado’s offensive line.
One fan put it perfectly, writing, “Love the addition to the O-line room! Coach Prime and team do a great job adding transfers who have multiple years of eligibility remaining.” This is exactly what Colorado needs to keep building its strong team.
Even though Andersen once committed to UCLA, he never actually played in a game there. Now, heading to the Buffs, he’s ready to make his mark. His huge size suggests he has the potential to be a key player on the offensive line. And fans are already excited: “Great addition for next year! Just keep your head down, grind, get stronger with Swasey, and get ready to compete to start in ’26.” Another simply cheered, “Congratulations Buffs .” So, the excitement is real—Andersen’s arrival adds serious power to Colorado’s line.
With all this excitement, there’s one thing to keep in mind. Coach Prime has brought in 7 three-star offensive linemen from the transfer portal—Zarian McGill, Mana Taimani, Larry Johnson III, Aki Ogunbiyi, Xavier Hill, Zy Crisler, and Andre Roye Jr.—plus sophomore left tackle Jordan Seaton is back. But with so many good players, one fan pointed out a possible challenge and offered a solution: “Hope CU runs a solid rotation on the O-line this season so everyone gets snaps. Otherwise, we might see a wave of O-line transfers.” Having a lot of good players is great, but managing their playing time will be key to keeping the unit strong and hungry.
Last but not least, one fan perfectly summed up the feeling: “Maaaaan, I can’t wait .” This season, Walker Andersen is ready to make his mark on the field. The big man’s arrival has Buffs fans buzzing, and everyone will be watching to see how he performs in Boulder. It’s time to see if Andersen can turn his potential into real impact.
The post Football Crowd Flips Script on Deion Sanders After He Snatches 335 Pound Beast From DeShaun Foster’s UCLA appeared first on EssentiallySports.
