Buffs Beat

Deion Sanders Hires Former Miami Hurricanes Two-Sport Star To Colorado Buffaloes Staff

The Colorado Buffaloes hired Cory Nelms, a former Miami Hurricanes football and track star, who had a brief NFL career. Helms will assist with strength and conditioning on Deion Sanders's staff.

Harrison Simeon

Nov 11, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders runs on to the field before the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Nov 11, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders runs on to the field before the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
In this story:

Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders has hired former Miami Hurricanes football and track star Cory Nelms to the Colorado Buffaloes' strength and conditioning staff, according to a report by Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports on Wednesday.

With his hiring official, Colorado now has 138 years of NFL experience on its staff. Assistant offensive line coaches Andre Gurode and George Hegamin, running backs coach Marshall Faulk, defensive line coach Domata Peko and Byron Leftwich are all names hired to "Coach Prime's" staff this offseason with time in the pros.

Per his LinkedIn profile, Nelms has been with the Buffs since February. He joined assistants Maurice Sims and Bradon Reyes under new head strength and conditioning coach Andreu Swasey.

In 2009, Nelms interned under Swasey, who led Miami's strength and conditioning program from 2001 to 2016. Nelms later returned to his alma mater on the track and field staff from 2014 to 2016.

Cory Nelms Raiders
May 28, 2013; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive back Cory Nelms (38) at organized team activities at the Raiders practice facility. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Buffs' newest strength coach also made an appearance in Tuesday's Reach The People Media video, giving an impassioned speech to Colorado's offensive line at practice as well as a standing interview with Darius Sanders.

"My reputation is busting my ass and working hard every single day," Nelms told the linemen. "You gotta pay the price right now, but I'm telling you, pay it, because it's going to pay dividends later on."

The speech included a tangent on Nelm's football journey, starting as a junior at Miami. He walked on and earned a scholarship at cornerback, playing well enough in two seasons to get the attention of the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2011.

MORE: Deion Sanders Wants To Play Bill Belichick, North Carolina In Spring Game

MORE: Colorado Buffaloes Coach Deion Sanders Teases Huge Hires, Moves

MORE: Deion Sanders To Hire Former Tom Brady Coach Byron Leftwich To Colorado Staff?

MORE: How To Watch Big 12 Pro Day: Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders, Shilo Sanders

Nelms never suited up for San Francisco and was eventually cut the next year, but the Oakland Raiders swooped in a few months later to sign him to their practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster late in 2012, appearing in one game for 11 special teams snaps. In Oakland, he also crossed paths with current Colorado assistant offensive line coach Andre Gurode.

Before the 2013 season, Nelms was cut by the Raiders and unofficially retired from the NFL.

Injuries derailed his football career, but Nelms has since coached track and field with the Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma Sooners and Florida International Panthers along with his time at Miami. He spent three years as Director of Sports Performance with the Ave Maria University Gyrenes and serves as a speed and agility consultant to the National Council on Strength and Fitness.

Ralphie Oklahoma State
Nov 29, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes mascot Ralphie is run onto the field before the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Nelms was born in Neptune Township, New Jersey, becoming a football and track superstar at Neptune High School. On the gridiron, he amassed 2005 PrepStar Preseason All-American and All-Region honors. In 2006, he won a National Scholastic Indoor Championship in the 60-meter hurdles.

As a track athlete with the Hurricanes, Nelms was a two-time ACC champion in 2009 and 2010. He holds the Miami record in the 400-meter hurdles and is a member of school-record teams in the 4x100 meter and sprint medley relays. Nelms was a team captain as a senior, earning All-American honors.

Nelms has been a grinder in every aspect, overcoming every hurdle thrown his way, and he now earns his first position coaching football. His success in multiple sports should help the Buffaloes in both speed and work ethic.

"Part of me being here is not just for them to lift weights, run around and be fast, but to show them the way," Nelms told Darius Sanders. "I want every one of those guys to succeed."

Published |Modified
Harrison Simeon
HARRISON SIMEON

Harrison Simeon is a beat writer for Colorado Buffaloes On SI. Formerly, he was a writer for Colorado Buffaloes Wire of the USA TODAY Sports network and freelance utility for FOX Sports, working at venues such as Empower Field at Mile High Stadium and Folsom Field. He is finishing his journalism degree at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he has passionately covered football, basketball, and other school programs through its student-run sports media organization, Sko Buffs Sports. As its Associate Producer, he has traveled to six states to cover events such as the 2024 Valero Alamo Bowl, the 2024 Pac-12 women’s basketball tournament, and the 2025 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship. He also captained the organization’s exponential growth in membership and on social media, where his posts have been featured on ESPN and Bleacher Report. While with SI, he interns at the Boulder Daily Camera, one of Colorado’s most revered newspapers. He is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Home/Football