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Deion Sanders can be for South Carolina what Hugh Freeze has been for Auburn football

By Andrew Hughes

One analyst believes Deion Sanders could have the same effect on South Carolina as Hugh Freeze's on Auburn football
One analyst believes Deion Sanders could have the same effect on South Carolina as Hugh Freeze's on Auburn football / Richard Rodriguez/GettyImages
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Deion Sanders has the "Prime Effect" in Boulder, Colorado while Hugh Freeze has brought and continues to bring the #FreezeWarnings to Auburn football. FanSided's John Buhler believes the two could have synergies; that Sanders has a chance create an effect in Columbia, South Carolina similar to what Freeze has established on the Plains.

The effect? Striking fear into the hearts of rivals.

"When Auburn hired Hugh Freeze, I knew it was the right call because I knew that it would make the Tigers' three biggest rivals feel uncomfortable in Alabama, Georgia and LSU," Buhler prefaced before saying, "In a way, I think bringing Sanders into the SEC at South Carolina would do the same for many of its biggest rivals. It would make Clemson in the ACC feel strange, maybe the likes of Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee."

Sanders has a 40-40-20 split for transfers, grad transfers, and high school recruits, but he's facilitated several high-profile flips in his short Power Conference career including Cormani McClain, Omarion Miller, and this past offseason, Jordan Seaton. With that said, he probably wouldn't strike fear into the hearts of a single SEC coach considering the lack of high finishes in recruiting in anything but the portal -- and keep in mind, that portal-heavy roster resulted in a 4-8 record in the Pac-12.

Hugh Freeze must prove himself on the field for Auburn football to be feared by SEC coaching peers

Freeze brought AU back to the level of recruiting it was prior to Bryan Harsin's tenure, but the Tigers losing more than they won in 2023 certainly held them back from rising higher than No. 10 in the 2024 cycle.

For there to be true fear from the likes of Kirby Smart, Steve Sarkisian, and Brian Kelly, Freeze will need to show a proof of concept to 2025 recruits. Then, rising higher than No. 15 will be a certainty considering how far Freeze has already come at Auburn.

Still not seeing Sanders getting that done anytime soon in the SEC considering the learning curve at Colorado. Boulder may be the best Power 4 fit for "Prime Time" right now by a country mile.

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