Ex-Tiger Speaks on Transferring to Play for Deion Sanders, Colorado

A Clemson transfer commented on why he left the Tigers’ program this offseason – and joined Coach Prime’s team.

Former Clemson offensive lineman Zack Owens — who entered the NCAA transfer portal in April before later announcing Colorado as his transfer destination – spoke about his decision to transfer from Clemson and head to play for Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes, who went 4-8 in Sanders’ first season as their head coach in 2023.

Here’s what Owens had to say when discussing that topic during an episode of “DNVR Buffs Podcast” :

“My biggest thing is like, I knew at Jackson State, like Coach Sanders, his first year was a little rough, but then his second year, the way they bounced back and the way they won the league and the division – I could see that happening here this year.

“And my biggest thing was at Clemson — great school, great program. I love all the coaches, I love everybody there. But they already had their foundation set. Everybody knows the Trevor Lawrence or the Deshaun Watson and Travis Etienne. They already had their foundation. They already made their history there.

“I wanted to be a part of a program that OK, so now he’s one of the guys we look back and remember. … At Clemson, that’s all they talked about was what they did in the past and how it helped us build up, which is something that we always respect. But I want to be a part of building a program up to the point where we can make history and change the culture from here on out.”

Owens (6-6, 375) played 13 offensive snaps in two games while redshirting in his first and only year at Clemson in 2023.

The McDonough, Ga., native played three snaps in his college debut vs. Charleston Southern, and played 10 snaps vs. Georgia Tech.

A former four-star and top-200 national prospect from Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy, Owens committed to Clemson in October 2022 and enrolled in January 2023.

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