Kickstands have a way of flipping up and down with ease.

They serve as a temporary but reliable support when needed, easily retracted when it’s time to move on.

“You know what a kickstand signifies? That means I’m taking a break,” remarked Colorado coach Deion Sanders recently. “We’re not going anywhere. We’re getting comfortable.”

So, let’s ask: does it really matter where Sanders is coaching in 2025? Whether at Colorado, another prestigious college football program, or with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, it isn’t about the location.

What truly matters is that he continues to do more.

More Deion, more Prime. We need more of his distinct style and confidence to inspire those beyond his immediate sphere of influence. This might sound strange, but I believe Deion may not fully realize the impact of Prime beyond the field.

He embodies the essence of the Man in the Arena, and now it’s time, echoing Teddy Roosevelt, to dare to achieve great things.

He is now deeply immersed in coaching, well beyond the basics of blocking and tackling.

A couple of years back, when Deion was considering leaving the successful program he built at Jackson State to pursue a position in Bowl Subdivision, I stated that Auburn would be missing an opportunity by not hiring him. He was a star athlete in the South, a high school legend from North Fort Myers, Florida, and an All-American at Florida State.

If anyone understood how to navigate the South and successfully recruit its wealth of talent—especially to challenge Alabama and Nick Saban—it was Deion. He could have been the transformative figure in the high-stakes SEC environment.

This narrative begins and concludes here, where Deion’s presence and promotional influence could achieve remarkable results.

If Deion had taken the reins at Auburn, his larger-than-life personality might have persuaded SEC leaders to engage in regular non-conference games with HBCU institutions, providing those financial opportunities that could ease the financial burdens faced by many of these 54 football-playing schools. This could have helped some to sustain and flourish.

That doesn’t mean he can’t effect similar changes at Colorado within the Big 12, even if the financial context is distinctly different. It also doesn’t imply he can’t achieve significant advancements in the NFL, a league run by 32 of the wealthiest, most skilled business leaders, operating a top-notch, profitable sports organization.

The NFL generates $12.4 billion every year from media rights. Let that sink in: $12.4 billion.

It wouldn’t take much for an influential figure to grab the attention of a prominent owner—perhaps Jerry Jones of the Cowboys—and persuade him (and by extension, the other 31 owners) about the benefits of directly supporting HBCUs with financial resources.

When Deion arrived at Colorado two years ago, he declared to YSL News’s Jarrett Bell that he saw himself as a “hope agent.” He has also proven at the FBS level that he has mastered coaching.

Jackson State was a troubled program—both on and off the field—when Deion took charge. The facilities, from locker rooms to practice fields, were outdated and in poor condition. Now, they have all undergone a transformation due to the Prime brand’s assertiveness.

During his tenure, Jackson State secured sponsorships from major companies like Under Armour, Pepsi, American Airlines, and Procter & Gamble—a diverse array of American businesses.

Deion led Jackson State to two Southwest Athletic Conference championships before moving to Colorado, and now in his second year there, he’s just two victories away from competing for a place in the College Football Playoff, defying the doubts of those who thought it impossible (including myself).

Yet this is about much more than Deion the coach; it’s about Prime as the hope agent.

It doesn’t matter where Deion finds himself coaching in 2025. What truly counts is how he will influence the game both on and off the field.

Should Colorado advance to the CFP, Deion’s impact will be even more pronounced on college football’s grandest stage in the inaugural 12-team playoff. This would be an incredible opportunity for promotion.

Prime, as the hope agent, must leverage this moment, regardless of whether he stays in Colorado or transitions to the NFL.

He’s too invested in this coaching journey to not take bold steps forward now.