Deion Sanders is expanding Boo Carter’s role for the Colorado football team.
After playing exclusively at cornerback in the Buffs‘ season opening-win vs. Georgia Tech, Carter split his time between there and the slot in Week 2 (32 snaps at corner, 31 snaps at nickel). Coach Prime made that in-game adjustment due to leaky coverage elsewhere and liked the outcome.
Carter will continue to play in the slot and on the perimeter at cornerback as a result.
“In the NFL, I think he (Boo Carter) can play the slot, corner and safety and what does that do for him? Gives him value,” Deion Sanders said Tuesday.
“Boo is going to corner this week (vs. Northwestern) as well as the slot.”
The move to slot for Carter presented an opportunity at cornerback for Jason Stokes Jr., who ran with it. After playing just three snaps in the season opener, the 6-foot-2 Utah transfer played 33 snaps and had three PBUs in the Week 2 win over Weber State.
Stokes Jr. should be the starting cornerback opposite of Cree Thomas with Carter in the slot (his natural position) when Colorado goes to its nickel personnel. That trio was among the top 15 of Pro Football Network’s highest-graded cornerbacks from Week 2. No other school had three cornerbacks in the top 35.
“It allows you to do some spectacular things because now you have a little depth at this position or that position,” Deion Sanders said of Stokes’ breakout.
Carter is the key to the Colorado football team’s secondary. The Tennessee transfer has been targeted a team-high 13 times so far through two games and is allowing QBs to complete just 46% of their passes when throwing his way.
His NFL aspirations are real which is why Deion Sanders will continue to play him at both slot and cornerback (and perhaps elsewhere). When Carter inevitably lines back up at corner, expect true freshman Preston Ashley instead of Makari Vickers to man the slot in nickel personnel.
Ashley made his college debut (18 snaps) in Week 2 and had two PBUs.
“We had a youngster (Preston Ashley) who jumped in there and did some phenomenal things in the slot and got his feet wet,” Deion Sanders said. “I’m happy with his productivity. He wasn’t scared of the moment.”
Coach Prime also provided an injury update on Colorado WR Danny Scudero.
“I don’t know if Danny’s going to be healthy this week,” Deion Sanders said Tuesday.
It’s been a disappointing start to Scudero’s career as a Buff. He suffered a foot injury during fall camp that made him a game-time decision for the season opener. He played in Week 1 but didn’t look like himself and although he increased his snap count in Week 2 (13 to 36), it sounds like he still isn’t back to 100%.
Danny Scudero and Kam Perry — two of Colorado’s most prized transfer additions — have combined for just eight catches, 46 yards and zero TDs through two games. Luckily for QB Julian Lewis and the Buffs, Joseph Williams and DeAndre Moore Jr. have picked up the slack. That duo has combined to catch 14 passes for 190 yards and three TDs entering Week 3.
Colorado (2-0) heads to Northwestern (1-0) on Saturday looking to stay undefeated before Big 12 play.
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