You see them both on Aflac commercials.

One is stern and reserved. The other is more flamboyant.

It might be why Alabama coach Nick Saban and Colorado coach Deion Sanders work so well together in the ad campaign, but they are more alike than they are different, according to Charles Kelly.

Kelly, Colorado’s new defensive coordinator, is in his first year under Coach Prime since spending four seasons in Tuscaloosa with Saban. Perhaps no one can make the comparison quite like Kelly.

It’s a question, Kelly says, he gets asked a lot.

“The thing I tell people is there are a lot more similarities than there are differences,” Kelly told me during a guest appearance on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 on Thursday. “When I say that, first of all when I talk about them as people, what kind of men they are, both of them are very good men. They are both strong men of faith, No. 1. The standard they set for what they accomplish is second to none.”

Kelly spent three seasons coaching the safeties at Alabama after working at a number of Power conference schools. The Ozark, Alabama native and Auburn graduate was the defensive coordinator at Florida State from 2014-17 before coaching safeties at Tennessee in 2018. Before Florida State, Kelly was at Georgia Tech from 2006-12 in a number of defensive roles.

“Everything (Deion’s) done in his life, he has set a high standard,” Kelly explained. “It’s impossible to reach some of the things he’s done unless he has that.

“Coach Saban is the same way. The standard he sets for the people around him, his program, what he wants to accomplish. Sometimes people aren’t made to live up to that standard. That’s OK.”

That’s not to say they are identical. Kelly points out clearly the two men have different personalities, something the commercials make apparent.

“They have their own way of doing things,” he said.

“I thoroughly enjoyed working for coach Saban,” he said. “One of the best experiences of my life. I was glad I had an opportunity to do that.

“I’m just happy to work with Coach Prime. He’s been a good friend. We’ve been friends for a long time. I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

Check out the full interview here.

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.