Deion Sanders says injured top WR Danny Scudero will play in season opener

Danny Scudero is progressing from the undisclosed injury that has kept Colorado’s top transfer weapon off the field during fall camp, and coach Deion Sanders is confident the star wide receiver will be ready for the season opener.

“Danny’s progressing. Some good news the other day,” Sanders said Thursday after the fourth Buffaloes’ practice of fall camp at Fountain-Fort Carson High School. “We’re optimistic. We’re hoping he’s going to return sooner than later.

“He’s most definitely going to play against Georgia Tech for sure. If I know Danny, he’s definitely going to do that.”

Colorado opens the season Sept. 3 in Atlanta.

Scudero, a redshirt junior, has been spotted on crutches and in a walking boot in the days leading into camp. The university has not disclosed the nature of his injury, but Sanders’ comments Thursday marked the most detail any member of the program has shared publicly about a timetable.

The 5-foot-9 playmaker from San Jose, California, arrived this offseason as the crown jewel of CU’s portal class after leading all of FBS with 1,291 receiving yards at San Jose State in 2025. He caught 88 passes and 10 touchdowns en route to AP second-team All-American honors and a semifinal nod for the Biletnikoff Award.

His absence during the opening week of camp puts added importance on the other receivers in Boulder. Kam Perry, a transfer from Miami (Ohio) who caught 43 passes for 976 yards and six touchdowns last fall, has drawn early praise. Returning wideout Joseph Williams, who had 37 catches for 489 yards and four scores in his first CU season, rounds out the top targets for quarterback Julian Lewis

Rashad Davis, who was promoted from his previous role to wide receivers coach this week after Jason Phillips departed the program, will oversee the room going forward. Sanders said Thursday that Davis has been with him since Jackson State and has long been instrumental in developing the position group behind the scenes.

“Rashad has been with us since Jackson State. I don’t think you guys know that,” Sanders said. “Sometimes people may give credit to others. … He’s done a lot of leg work. He’s done a lot with the receivers. He’s been there, so it was his time to rise up.”

For now, Sanders isn’t sweating the early missed reps. He expects Scudero’s mentality to take care of the rest.

“If I know Danny,” Sanders repeated, “he’s definitely going to do that.”

The Buffaloes will wrap up their Colorado Springs camp this week before returning to Boulder ahead of their opener at Georgia Tech next month.

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