FRISCO, Texas >> Colorado head coach Deion Sanders didn’t address his health Wednesday, but he looked strong physically when he showed up to Big 12 media day at The Star and is looking forward to this season with the Buffaloes.

It was the first public appearance for Sanders since the CU spring game in April, as he’s dealt with an undisclosed health issue.

“I’m not here to talk about my health,” he said. “I’m here to talk about my team.”

When asked a follow-up question about what an average day has looked like for him this summer as he’s been at his estate in Canton, Texas, Sanders smiled and said, “I’m looking good. I’m living lovely. God has truly blessed me. Not a care in the world, not a want or desire in the world.”

Sanders, 57, has been in Canton for several weeks and hasn’t said much about his health. But, in late May on a podcast, he said he had lost 14 pounds, adding at the time, “What I’m dealing with right now is a whole other level.”

On Wednesday, Sanders said he’s feeling good and thanked Big 12 coaches and conference commissioner Brett Yormark for continually checking up on him.

“(Yormark) called me daily and checked on me to make sure I’m straight and make sure I’m getting better and better,” he said. “The coaches of the Big 12 are incredible. I love them. They’ve been calling, checking on me, making sure I’m straight.”

A Pro Football Hall of Famer who is arguably the best cornerback to ever play the game, Sanders has dealt with various health issues in recent years, going back to his time as Jackson State’s head coach in 2021. He had several surgeries that fall, including having two toes amputated on his left foot.

In the summer of 2023, prior to his first season at CU, Sanders had two surgeries to fix blood clots. He missed Pac-12 football media day that summer, but those procedures improved his mobility.

Sanders has not been in Boulder for several weeks but has been supported by CU and his players.

“For coach and I, it’s just about communication,” CU athletic director Rick George told BuffZone at media day. “Whether we’re in person or on the phone, we connect quite a bit, and Deion’s doing great. He looks great. That was the expectation. He looks great and he’s doing great, and he’s excited to get back and get this thing going.”

Sanders was joined at media day by quarterbacks JuJu Lewis and Kaidon Salter, offensive lineman Jordan Seaton, cornerback DJ McKinney and kicker Alejandro Mata.

Mata, who is going into fourth season playing for Sanders, said, “I know he’s going to be OK, and I know he’s going to come back whenever he’s ready.”

Seaton also expressed his confidence that Sanders would be good to go when the season starts. Players are scheduled to return to Boulder on July 27, with preseason practices beginning July 28. The season opener is Aug. 29 against Georgia Tech at Folsom Field.

“Coach Prime has been doing fine,” Seaton said. “You see him today. He’s in good spirits, he’s doing everything. When I FaceTime him, he’s looking good. He’s always smiling, he’s always chatting. I’m just glad he came out to come support today and show everybody that he’s good, he’s in good spirits.”

Sanders was in especially good spirits when talking about his team, which faces some challenges in replacing stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, as well as many others. But, the Buffs believe they’ve got a team that can build upon the success of last year, when they went 9-4.

The goal, Coach Prime said, is to get to the Big 12 title game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 6.

“We want to win. We want to win at all costs,” Sanders said of his expectations for this year.

“We want to be in that championship game, not here at The Star, but over at that other big house that Jerry (Jones) has built. That’s what we want to do, and that’s what we’re gearing up for. That’s all we’re playing for. We play to win. We don’t just play to compete.”