LAS VEGAS – Charles Kelly didn’t initially plan to be at Pac-12 media day. And there was a hiccup after his preliminary flight to get right here was canceled.
On Friday, nonetheless, Kelly represented the Colorado Buffaloes, filling in for head coach Deion Sanders, who needed to skip the occasion due to a surgical procedure on Thursday.
“His No. 1 precedence is to be again for fall camp, be full-go,” mentioned Kelly, the Buffs’ defensive coordinator. “He’s doing good. He’s raring to go.”
Kelly was able to go on Friday at Resorts World Las Vegas as he went by the media obligations of the day, together with quarterback Shedeur Sanders and cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter.
For starters, Kelly supplied an replace on Coach Prime, who has had a few current procedures to get his left leg feeling higher.
“It’s been a difficult course of for him, however like anything he does in his life, he attacked it and he’s gonna hit it head-on,” Kelly mentioned. “He’s in good spirits and all people mentioned if he goes by what he’s doing, he’ll be fantastic.”
Shedeur added that his father “is doing good. I talked to him. Every thing is sweet.”
Even with out Coach Prime available, the Buffs have been in a position to get their message throughout that they’re keen to start out the brand new period of CU soccer, and so they aren’t too involved about an Eleventh-place projection by Pac-12 media.
“If they’re basing it off final yr, I’d have ranked us that, too. They have been 1-11,” Shedeur Sanders mentioned. “However, should you’re really doing all of your analysis and perceive, OK, cool, they’ve bought new gamers, they’ve bought a brand new coach, they’ve bought a brand new quarterback on the market, then , 2 not going like that (referring to himself, as he’ll put on No. 2). Two not going Eleventh-ranked.
“It’s good for you all to get that on the market and simply publish it and create commotion, however c’mon now.”
Following a 1-11 marketing campaign in 2022, CU overhauled its program. First, the Buffs employed Coach Prime on Dec. 3. He then assembled an skilled teaching employees that features Kelly, who spent the earlier 4 years at Alabama. And, the Buffs have nearly utterly revamped the roster, with 88 newcomers (together with walk-ons) on board.
“There’s a way of urgency,” Kelly mentioned. “In reality, I can let you know no person exterior goes to place any extra strain on us than we’re going to placed on ourselves. Coach Prime made it very clear his imaginative and prescient from the start.
“We wish to do it now. We’ve taken criticism. That’s fantastic. Individuals have their opinion to say what they wish to, however we did inside what the principles enable for us to have the ability to create the perfect roster attainable for the College of Colorado. We don’t apologize for that.”
That roster contains Sanders and Hunter, who, exterior of reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams of USC, may need been the 2 greatest stars at media day. When it comes to social media followers, the Buffs’ duo was on the prime – and it’s not even shut.
Kelly mentioned there’s little question the 2 Buffs available, who led Jackson State to a SWAC title final yr, deserved to be within the Pac-12 highlight.
“I’ve been figuring out each of those younger males since they have been freshmen in highschool,” Kelly mentioned. “We recruited them each at Alabama. I can keep in mind Shedeur and Travis coming to camp. … They should be right here. Now we’ve bought to exit on the sector and compete and each these guys know that and our coaches know that, however yeah, they should be right here.”
Not that it was a giant deal to both. Sanders and Hunter fulfilled obligations on Friday, however they possible would relatively have been in Boulder figuring out with their teammates.
“It’s simply, I suppose, part of the method,” Sanders mentioned of being at media day.
“It’s good, easy. Simply a whole lot of strolling,” Hunter mentioned of the day. “I’m simply able to get to the season. Able to play.”
Kelly is prepared, a effectively. He made extra media appearances Thursday than he in all probability will all season, however was proud to be picked by Coach Prime as his substitute because the Buffs gear up for the season.
“Big honor,” Kelly mentioned. “Coach and I, we imagine in the identical issues. That’s why I’m at Colorado, due to Coach Prime. I’ve a whole lot of respect for what Colorado has performed (up to now), the custom they’ve, however I wouldn’t be right here if it weren’t for coach. I imagine in the identical issues he believes in.
“To start with, he’s a superb man. He has a crystal-clear imaginative and prescient of the place he desires this program to go and he has conviction about what he believes in, and people are the issues that I imagine in. These are the values that I’ve. So, I’m very honored to be right here, I’m very honored to symbolize Colorado. To me, there’s a lot custom that this college has; our job is to assist them. We’ve by no means misplaced the custom; we simply should get the successful again so the individuals are enthusiastic about it.”
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