Colorado coach Deion Sanders is speaking out against those sending death threats to Colorado State’s Henry Blackburn.

Coach Prime condemned the recent death threats made after the Colorado State defensive back’s illegal hit Saturday on Buffaloes star Travis Hunter.

“Henry Blackburn is a good player who played a phenomenal game,” Sanders said Tuesday. “He made a tremendous hit on Travis on the sideline. You could call it dirty, you could call it, ‘He was just playing the game of football.’ But whatever it was, it does not constitute that he should be receiving death threats.”

Hunter, who had a lacerated liver, was released from the hospital Monday. He will miss Saturday’s game against No. 10 Oregon.

Threats against Blackburn started before No. 19 Colorado completed its 43-35 double-overtime victory late Saturday night, Colorado State athletic director Joe Parker told ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

University and local police have both investigated the threats, which came via phone calls, text messages and on social media, according to Parker.

“That’s absurd for people to be threatened,” the Colorado coach said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. “I don’t mind getting death threats. I get them every week. But a kid, it’s not good. He does not deserve a death threat over a game. At the end of the day, this is a game — someone must win, someone must lose. Everybody continues their life the next day. Very unfortunate.”

Sanders asked for prayers for Blackburn.

“(The death threats are) very unfortunate,” he said. “I’m saddened if there’s any of our fans that’s on the other side of those threats — I would hope and pray not. But that kid was just playing the best of his ability and he made a mistake. I forgive him. CU, our team forgives him. Travis, he’s forgiven him. Let’s move on. But that kid does not deserve that.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.