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Colorado Shut Out of 2026 NFL Combine
Deion Sanders' program will have no participants at the league's top pre-draft event.
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
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The Colorado Buffaloes, led by NFL legend Deion Sanders, will not have a single player participating in the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis. This is a significant setback for a program that has made the NFL its primary focus under Coach Prime's leadership.
Why it matters
The NFL Combine is a crucial event for draft prospects to showcase their skills and impress scouts. Colorado's absence from the event is a blow to Sanders' vision of developing players for the professional league, which has been a central part of his messaging and program identity.
The details
Nearly every team in the Big 12 conference will have players testing and interviewing at the combine, except for Colorado. Several Buffaloes players, including Arden Walker, Preston Hodge, Keaten Wade, Kaidon Salter, Sincere Brown, and Amari McNeill, have declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, but they will not have the opportunity to participate in the combine.
- The 2026 NFL Combine is scheduled to take place in Indianapolis this month.
The players
Deion Sanders
The head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes and a legendary NFL player.
Arden Walker
A Colorado Buffaloes player who has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Preston Hodge
A Colorado Buffaloes player who has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Keaten Wade
A Colorado Buffaloes player who has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Kaidon Salter
A Colorado Buffaloes player who has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Sincere Brown
A Colorado Buffaloes player who has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Amari McNeill
A Colorado Buffaloes player who has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
What they’re saying
“NFL over NIL. Development over distraction. The league is the goal. The brand and the endorsements follow the production.”
— Deion Sanders, Head Coach, Colorado Buffaloes
What’s next
The Colorado Buffaloes and Deion Sanders will need to focus on preparing their draft-eligible players for pro days and the 2026 NFL Draft, as they will not have the opportunity to showcase their skills at the prestigious NFL Combine.
The takeaway
Deion Sanders' vision of making the NFL the primary focus for the Colorado Buffaloes program has hit a setback with the team's exclusion from the 2026 NFL Combine. This absence from the league's top pre-draft event raises questions about the program's ability to develop and promote its players for the professional level, which has been a central part of Sanders' messaging and identity.
