Warren Sapp joining Deion Sanders’ Colorado coaching staff

Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp is joining the Colorado Buffaloes’ coaching staff, coach Deion Sanders announced Wednesday.

“I’m excited about Coach Sapp,” Sanders said. “He’s a dear friend that I love to life, and he’s going to be invaluable to what he brings to the table the kids are going to love him as well, as far as the recruits as well, they’re going to love him.”

Sapp has been with the Buffaloes in an unofficial capacity throughout the season, but the announcement likely means he will be working with the defensive line full-time.

“After practice, he was in the hot tub with the whole darn defensive line, and he was just going over stuff and it was unbelievable,” Sanders said. “Like Warren Sapp is in the hot tub, there’s probably 4,000 pounds in the hot tub right now. Oh my God, it was unbelievable they were going over stuff, it was like a boys club in there everyone was having a good time.”

The two grew up in Florida, with Sanders living in Fort Meyers while Sapp was near Orlando, about three hours north.

Both were Florida high school football legends, and Sapp will likely be one of Sanders’ right-hand men despite no official role being announced yet.

Sapp will likely take on some role with the defensive line and Sanders hinted that he will be involved in recruiting.

The Buffaloes offered the top five defensive line recruits a full scholarship in the class of 2023, but none of the players visited Colorado on an official visit.

Their lone defensive line recruit to accept their offer was Hank Zilinskas, but that doesn’t mean the Buffaloes don’t have other plans up their sleeve.

Sanders and Co. have been notably active in the transfer market, bringing in 51 transfers this past season, according to 247Sports.

Coach Prime put out a statement to teams earlier this season that they “better get me right now, this is the worst we’re gonna be,” after Colorado’s blowout loss to the Oregon Ducks in September.

Colorado currently has the 29th-best recruiting class, but the full story won’t be told until the transfer portal opens May 1.