What UCLA's Chip Kelly said about Deion Sanders and Colorado

Coach Prime and the Buffs face the Bruins at the Rose Bowl on Saturday

The Colorado Buffaloes are coming off a bye week and face a pivotal matchup with the No. 23 UCLA. Bruins coach Chip Kelly has a lot in common with Deion Sanders. 

The pair of Pac-12 coaches were analysts in the network television world at different points in their respective careers. They'll face each other for the first time on Saturday and have a lot of respect for one another. Here's what Kelly had to say about Sanders this week. 

The initial impressions of Colorado?

"They're outstanding. I think especially on the offensive side of the ball. You know Edwards at running back and then that Trio of receivers with Weaver, Horn and Hunter... They all can really run. They can all really go.

"I think Shedeur has a great grasp of that offense. A really good understanding of it does and not put the ball In harm's way and he's really, really good with the football and they got a good scheme on the offensive side of the ball. You know to get those guys going and then defensively they got a bunch of guys running around getting to the football. So, it's a good football team they're battle tested they played a lot of good games. 

"They played close games. You know, they had a couple that in overtime win against Colorado State and then they lost in double overtime to Stanford. So, you've seen them you know in really close football games and they compete and play hard."

Thoughts on Shedeur Sanders and how he handles CU's offense

"What does it say about a their quarterback. I think Shedeur is one of the most hit quarterbacks in the in the country. I know he's taking a ton of sacks and yet he's managed to avoid turnovers.

"It says a lot about him. I mean I I think he's one of the he's certainly in the conversation for top quarterbacks in the country, and the way he's playing right now, he's got a lot of poise. It's a different deal now for quarterbacks and I don't think people really appreciate it, but I would say that the best quarterbacks are probably the toughest. The guys that can stand in there even though there's a rush coming and still deliver the ball where it's supposed to be and not putting It In harm's way and he does that a ton.

"I think you know he's the key so how he goes is how that offense goes so you know that's what our attention is this week is is we need to try to disrupt the timing of the routes and then we really need to get pressure on the quarterback."

Coach Prime's roster construction via the transfer portal and could Kelly do the same?

"It's just a new era, you know. When I came in five years ago, six years ago, you couldn't do that. Now, you can. It's just how you do it and how you choose. I think you evaluate the players in the program and see where they are and then you know can you get players to upgrade at the position and that's what Coach Sanders did. So, you know, the record speaks for itself.

"They won one game last year and they've won four games this year. So, it's working. He's done a great job there and and we're going to have a battle on Saturday against him."

Has Kelly and Sanders ever met?

"I know him actually. He brought Shedeur to a camp we had here a couple years ago. I think he's great. I think he's done an unbelievable job there. I think he's also great for college football. The attention and the buzz that he's brought to this game, but I also admire him. He's a little bit old school, you know, in terms of his approach and how he does things.

"I think it's the same way he was when he was a player. He had a tremendous amount of talent, but he's got unbelievable work ethic in terms of what he does and and how he performs and what he puts into it. I that's what he he's asking from his players and that's what he's getting from his players. It's really impressive what he's doing." 

Colorado travels to Pasadena for the last time as a member of the Pac-12. They'll square off against 23-ranked UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 28. The game will be nationally televised by ABC at 7:30 p.m. ET.