Deion Sanders likes what he has seen from Colorado in the opening days of fall camp.

“The roster is really talented,” Sanders said this week after the Buffs’ third practice. “I love the depth we’re displaying right now. I really do. It’s a whole new team.”

Most everybody in college football can make that last statement, but its more true at CU than anywhere else in the country. “Coach Prime” overhauled the roster in a way the sport has never seen.

But the Buffs are going to have to prove they’re a different team once the games start. The last time we saw CU take the field, it struggled mightily. Particularly (though not exclusively) in the secondary, CU was beaten time and time again all year.

Colorado had the sixth-worst pass defense in the FBS by efficiency, yielding 8.7 yards per play while allowing passes to be completed at a 67% clip. There was no pass rush to speak of — CU had nine sacks in 12 games, the fewest of any FBS team — but the secondary deserves its share of the blame as well.

The Buffs will look more talented at a lot of positions, but defensive back might be the most visible.

It’s the position group from which Sanders made a name for himself. It’s the group that now features Travis Hunter and Cormani McClain and Omarion Cooper and several other major transfer acquisitions.

“They’re going to get there. They’re not there right now. They’re gonna get there,” Sanders said of the secondary. “It’s hard to meet my expectations as a cornerback. I have tremendous expectations.

“Someone has to join Travis (Hunter). That’s it. Somebody has to join Travis.”

McClain is a favorite to be that guy. The former 5-star recruit was a massive addition to the Buffs’ 2023 class and projects as a defensive back who can play right away.

“He’s coming slowly but surely,” Sanders said. “He’s just got to make that adjustment from high school to college — emotionally, mentally, and psychologically. And he’s going to be okay. But he’s getting in shape, that’s No. 1. He’s got to understand you’ve got to have the light switch on at all times, especially playing against the receivers that we have.

“You’ve got to understand when he’s out there on the twos or the threes, he’s oftentimes playing against the one offense because that’s the way we practice: twos vs. ones, ones vs. twos, threes on threes. So oftentimes he is playing against some of the better guys on the opposing squad.”

One would think that’ll help fast-track development. Of course, so will playing opposite Hunter when the Buffs open the season in Fort Worth against TCU.

Sanders is happy with the approach he’s seen from CU’s older group of safeties as well.

“They take their lunch in the meeting room, they’re watching the film before the coaches even get a hold of them,” he said. “So by the time the coach is getting in, they’ve already made the adjustments and understand what they did wrong. They are just taking it serious.

“They know they only have a couple more years in this thing and they’re really taking it serious. They want to be dominant. They don’t just want to win.”