Kai Mlan’s Turbulent College Football Journey: Will He Return to Colorado?
In a weekend filled with thrilling football matchups involving Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and Ole Miss, one of the wildest stories didn’t unfold on the field. Rumors are circulating that Kai Mlan, once the top quarterback recruit in the nation, may be contemplating a return to Colorado to play under Coach Deion Sanders, better known as “Coach Prime.”
The saga of Mlan’s career has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. Once heralded as a five-star recruit, Mlan was on every major college football program’s radar. He ultimately chose Colorado, but things quickly unraveled. Reports of his lack of discipline—missing meetings and classes—plagued his time there. This culminated in a now-infamous YouTube video where he openly criticized Colorado and Coach Prime, asserting that he didn’t want to play for clicks and views.
Mlan’s departure from Colorado was far from graceful. After entering the transfer portal, no major programs pursued him. He eventually ended up as a walk-on at Florida—an unthinkable turn for someone who was once the nation’s top quarterback recruit. His time at Florida, however, has been equally turbulent. Reports surfaced that he was again showing up late to meetings and workouts, leading to disciplinary actions. Even more troubling, he wasn’t listed on the depth chart, not even as a backup.
As Mlan continues to struggle at Florida, rumors are now swirling that he’s interested in a reunion with Colorado. This speculation reached a fever pitch when Mlan was spotted at a UCF vs. Colorado game, a move he made no effort to keep quiet, posting about his presence on Instagram before quickly deleting the post. This has left many scratching their heads, questioning why he was there and what his intentions might be.
For Mlan to return to Colorado, it would require more than just showing up at a game. Many believe he would need to make a sincere apology to Coach Prime, admitting his mistakes and asking for a second chance. However, whether Sanders would be willing to entertain such a request remains uncertain. Given Mlan’s previous behavior and public criticism of Sanders, a return is far from guaranteed.
Coach Prime is known for giving opportunities to those willing to work hard, but as the head of a now-successful program, he doesn’t necessarily need Mlan. Colorado is currently thriving, sitting at 4-1, and Sanders has no shortage of talent on his roster.
The situation also underscores a larger lesson about the nature of college football and life itself: nothing is handed to you. Even for the most talented athletes, success requires discipline, effort, and humility. Mlan’s struggles seem to reflect a mindset that his high school accolades would carry him through his college career, which hasn’t been the case. His continued need for attention and his inability to prioritize hard work over social media posts have only exacerbated his issues.
For now, the football world is left to wonder: will Mlan mature and make the necessary changes to revive his once-promising career, or will he continue to be a cautionary tale of squandered potential? If Mlan can reconcile with Coach Prime, it might be the fresh start he desperately needs. However, time is ticking, and the window for redemption is closing fast.
What do you think? Should Coach Prime give Kai Mlan another shot, or is the bridge too burned to be rebuilt? Only time will tell.