Deion Sanders describes emotions of awarding Charlie Offerdahl a scholarship

A moment that truly never gets old in the college football landscape is when a walk-on player earns and is rewarded with a scholarship. Moments that are met with a burst of energy and excitement from players and goosebumps and emotions from those who watch.

Colorado ended spring practice by rewarding walk-on running back Charlie Offerdahl with a scholarship. An occasion orchestrated by head coach Deion Sanders in the locker room after the spring game on Saturday with Offerdahl’s parents in attendance.

“Teary, teary-eyed,” Sanders said when asked what the moment was like. “I mean I was in there boo-hooing like I was part of the family, which I feel like I’m part of the family.”

“He was raised correctly, wonderful mother and father who supported him 100% of the way. His brother is gonna follow in his footsteps with his toughness, and physicality, and stick-to-itiveness. 4.0 student, honor roll student, Charlie is the prototype man. He’s a man.”

Offerdahl has spent the past three seasons with the Buffaloes, redshirting as a freshman before rushing for 150 yards on 37 carries in 2022 to set a season record for most rushing yards by a walk-on in program history.

Last season in year one under Sanders he rushed for just 11 yards, primarily contributing on special teams where he recorded one tackle. But his hard work and dedication have clearly showed since Coach Prime’s arrival, named the MVP of spring practice along with earning a scholarship.

“I love what he stands for, I love who he is, I love what he’s about and we wanted to trick him. I told him a couple days ago I think he is going to win player of the spring and so that’s the way we tricked him into bringing his parents over. And it was a tremendous moment, but it’s nothing that we gave him. He took it,” Sanders clarified. “He flat out took it, and he earned it, and he deserved it. So God bless him.”

There’s no doubt that Saturday will be a day that the Offerdahl family will never forget. But Sanders also left the door open for the next walk-on player in Boulder to earn a scholarship as well in the future the same way Offerdahl did this past weekend.

“And I told him at the conclusion of the game, the rest of the team that, who’s next? Which walk-on is next? Because we got room and we got time,” Sanders concluded.