At 23, Shedeur Sanders has been the most magnetic quarterback of the college football landscape. When the NFL Draft came around, he surprisingly wasn’t selected even in the first round. In 2021, Sanders began his pilgrimage with a start at Jackson State University. He starred at Jackson State University in his father, Deion Sanders’ inaugural season as head coach. After two seasons helping to build the powerhouse at Jackson State, he took the leap to the University of Colorado with his father. There, he stuck around for two more seasons with the Buffaloes.
Over the course of his three-year stint with Colorado, Sanders encountered extreme adversity. That’s because he took an absurd 94 sacks over the last two years. This downright scary number had NFL scouts up in arms over his decision-making and capacity to deal with pressure. Even when hit with pressure and not given proper protection, Sanders illustrated his dual-threat ability as a go-to passer. His short/medium completion percentage last two years went down by over 70%.
His poor performance turned him into one of the most polarizing prospects in the entire draft class. Though many commended his natural talent, many others pointed to his lack of arm strength, along with poor overall decision-making on the field. As one anonymous assistant coach put it, Sanders has a reputation for making defenses pay, saying,
“He takes unnecessary sacks. He never plays on time. He has horrible body language. He blames teammates. … But the biggest thing is, he’s not that good.”
While critics were pretending to break news with their opinions, Sanders unapologetically responded with the best form of defense. He wrote of his resolve to ignore the noise and remain focused on the prize, saying,
“I understand the easiest thing in the world to do is to be negative instead of positive.”
With the NFL Draft playing out, Sanders sat and watched his name go uncalled on the first night. The moment became a turning point in his career. We saw his journey from Jackson State to Colorado play out his potential for brilliance and the struggle that accompanies extraordinary expectations. The young quarterback remains committed to improving and proving his detractors wrong as he prepares for the next steps in his professional career.
“I truly don’t care what people have to say.”
As the NFL Draft unfolded without his name being called in the first round, Sanders faced a pivotal moment in his career. His journey from Jackson State to Colorado showcased both his potential and the challenges that come with high expectations. The young quarterback remains committed to improving and proving his detractors wrong as he prepares for the next steps in his professional career.