Brennan Marion is a home-run hire for Deion Sanders as Colorado football’s offensive coordinator

Deion Sanders is bringing Brennan Marion’s Go-Go offense to Colorado.

The first major domino of the Buffs‘ offseason fell Thursday when the Sacramento State head coach informed his team that he’s leaving for Boulder. Marion will take over as Colorado’s offensive coordinator after the Buffs averaged just 20.9 points and 328.4 total yards per game (both 15th in Big 12).

“Humbled to be sought out by the best to ever do it in football – Coach Prime,” Brennan Marion said. “It’s my mission to make sure we put a great product on the field that the entire CU family can be proud of! Sko Buffs!”   

In his first season as head coach, Marion led Sac State to a 7-5 record (3-9 the year before) and helped the Hornets average 33.8 points per game. He was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UNLV (2023-24) prior to that when the Rebels ranked 14th in the FBS with a school-record average of 36.2 points per game.

Brennan Marion is known as one of the most innovative, young coaches in college football. Let’s take a closer look at why the Buffs’ new OC is a home-run hire.

Brennan Marion majors in creativity

A few weeks ago, Coach Prime harped on his offense’s lack of first-down efficiency. It led to Colorado’s average third-down distance being 11.8 yards during true freshman QB Julian Lewis’ first start.

When asked the key to being efficient on first down, Deion Sanders replied “being creative.” That’s exactly why you bring in a Brennan Marion.

The inventor of the Go-Go offense, Marion’s philosophy is to “err on the side of creativity.” It’s a two-back, power-run offense that creates explosive plays in the run game due to its unique wrinkles.

Sac State averaged 262.6 rushing yards per game last season (third in FCS), a year after Marion helped UNLV rush for 251.2 yards per game which was the most for the school in over 45 years. Colorado’s rushing attack ranked 15th in the Big 12 last season (125.6 rushing yards per game) despite an improved offensive line and four different RBs averaging at least four yards per attempt.

The Buffs’ days of having an inept running game are over. If Brennan Marion does nothing else, he will scheme up creative runs to give Coach Prime the first-down efficiency he’s been looking for.

“We brought in a man that has shown he’s creative, innovative, knowledgeable, smart and understands today’s players,” Deion Sanders said of Brennan Marion. “He has made a difference on the field and off everywhere he’s been.”

Brennan Marion has experience galore

Head coach. Offensive coordinator. QBs coach. RBs coach. WRs coach. Brennan Marion has just about done it all.

There isn’t a skill position on offense that Marion hasn’t coached and it’s part of the reason why his offenses are so dynamic.

Nine different Sac State players earned All-Big Sky honors in 2025. At UNLV, Marion coached WR Ricky White III to a first-team All-American season and QB Jayden Maiava (now at USC) to a Mountain West Freshman of the Year campaign. Jordan Addison won the Biletnikoff Award (nation’s best WR) at Pitt with Marion as his WRs coach.

Part of what makes Brennan Marion such a home-run hire is that he’s not just an elite position coach and play caller, he’s also an elite recruiter.

Sac State just signed the No. 1-ranked 2026 recruiting class thanks in large part to Marion and chances are some of them follow him to Colorado. In fact, the Buffs are already pushing to sign four-star WR Xavier McDonald, who is the highest-ranked recruit in Sac State history.

Marion has a rolodex of recruiting connections that should help Colorado attract even more talent.

“Brennan (Marion) is one of the top recruiters in the country,” former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew said. “I know he will bring some of the best recruiters, teachers and developers in football.”

Brennan Marion is young, relatable

Colorado has a core of young players on offense to build around. Julian Lewis (freshman), Jordan Seaton (sophomore), Joseph Williams (sophomore) and others are cornerstone pieces who will be able to relate to their new OC.

Brennan Marion is just 38 years old which is a drastic change from 60-year-old Pat Shurmur who had play-calling duties stripped from him midseason.

Kansas City Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy led the Big 12 in TD catches with Marion as his WRs coach in 2022 and called him “one of the best coaches I have been around.”

“He is truly a players coach and makes sure his guys are good,” Worthy said of Brennan Marion. “He is always going to get the best out of his players. I would run through a wall for him.”

It remains to be seen just how much Marion can change the Buffs’ offense in one offseason but if history is any indication, Folsom Field will be rocking in 2026.

Follow Colorado Buffaloes beat reporter Scott Procter on X.