Why Southern hired Marshall Faulk away from Deion Sanders' staff originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
In the offseason following the 2024 college football season, Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders knew that improving the running game was an urgent need. Sanders, never short on NFL friends, reached out to NFL hall of fame running back Marshall Faulk to assist.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile the Buffaloes still don’t run the ball at a threatening level, Faulk has certainly added something to that room. In 2024, the Buffaloes finished the season with a total of 847 rushing yards.
To put that into perspective, in 2024 Ashton Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards, DJ Giddens rushed for almost 1,400 yards, and the 70th ranked rusher in 2024 for Justice Ellison of Indiana with 848 yards. Colorado as a team in 2024 was less than the 70th ranked individual.
In 2025, the Buffaloes have fared better. With one regular season game to go, the Buffs have 1,356 yards rushing to go with 13 rushing touchdowns (almost doubling last year's production).
Faulk’s presence has added a somewhat no-nonsense approach. He speaks plainly and direct, does not mince words and is very clear with what he expects. That approach went semi viral in late September when Faulk coached up Dre’lon Miller on the sidelines. Colorado tried Miller at running back after being a multi-faceted receiver. Coach Sanders announced a full time move to running back after that game.
On Monday, it was announced by
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSource:="" the="" deal="" is="" done.="" Marshall="" Faulk="" will="" be="" next="" head="" coach="" for="" Southern="" University.="" https://t.co/dBJ7kZkgsh
—="" Kevin="" Batiste="" (@KBatisteJr)="" >November="" 26,="" 2025=""
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