Colorado AD Rick George backs Deion Sanders amid roster turnover - ESPN

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., — Following a dizzying April during which dozens of players entered the transfer portal, Colorado athletic director Rick George remained staunch in his support for first-year coach Deion Sanders' plan to rebuild the roster.

«I have confidence in him and his staff and they know what they're doing,» George told ESPN on Thursday following the Pac-12's spring meetings. "… He's been very honest and forthright. He's been very open about it publicly and privately. He's trying to build a winner at Colorado, and this is his way to do it."

Sanders made it abundantly clear when he was hired from Jackson State in December that players should be prepared to transfer. Since then, 57 have entered the transfer portal, according to a school spokesman. It's an unprecedented amount in a new era of transfer rules.

The exodus began even before Sanders' arrival. According to ESPN's Stats & Information, 71 players have entered the portal since last August, which includes those who left following an abysmal 1-11 season.

Since the portal's inception in 2018, Colorado by far has had the most players enter, as Arkansas State had the second-most with 50. No other school has had more than 48.

George pointed to an NCAA rule that allows first-year head coaches to cut scholarship players, but he also said there are some players who wanted to leave following spring practices.

«When [Sanders] first came in, he said, 'there's a lot of people here who may not be here,' because he evaluated and looked at the talent on our team,» George said. «He's just publicly stated it, where a lot of people don't. We're not the first to do this. The NCAA rule says you can have those discussions. If a student-athlete wants to stay, they can stay. The