Deion Sanders launches groundbreaking NIL initiative that Big 12 schools should echo

One of the new Big 12 rivals and old Pac-12 rivals for the Utah Utes has just launched an initiative that will change the game of NIL. While Deion Sanders has had a very rough offseason, he did something this week that is legitimately impressive, in a good way.

The Colorado Buffaloes coach has formed a kind of NIL initiative that schools should be following. It’s the kind of initiative that will be attractive to players but also to players’ families. Both when they’re being recruited and when they’ve already arrived at a school.

Coach Prime has set up a system that will plan for the next generation of Colorado Buffaloes. Quite literally. He’s working with a local bank in order to establish savings plans for those players of his who have young children.

Utah football Big 12 rival coach comes up with great NIL plan

Earlier in the week, Prime sent a tweet looking for a bank in Boulder or Denver for a "business relationship with a few" players. On its face, that seemed like a rather odd message, but it turns out the Colorado coach definitely had something up his sleeve.

Then this weekend, at a team meeting, Sanders called up a handful of guys that are fathers, as well as a player with a kid on the way, sat them in front of their teammates, and delivered a message that sheds a new light on the embattled head coach.

"A child is not a mistake. A child is an opportunity to mature you, grow you, advance you, and give you some skills.”

He then announced that with the help with the 5430 Alliance, CU's NIL initiative, Elevations Credit Union stepped up and set up accounts for children of the players that Sanders called to the front of the room.

Each child now has a 529 Savings Plan and the rather intentional opening deposit of $2,121. 

You can check out the video above but the bottom line is this: Other Big 12 schools should be following Deion Sanders lead on efforts like this. If not now then in the very near future. That includes the Utah football team.