Since hiring NFL Hall of Fame cornerback Deon Sanders as their head coach, the Colorado Buffaloes have gone from long-term cellar-dwellers to being one of the most high-profile programs in the nation. The Buffaloes have gotten off to an impressive 2-0 start, including a road win over TCU, the runner-up in last season’s National Championship. Colorado has been led by two-way star sophomore Travis Hunter and junior quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the son of Deon. Shedeur Sanders’s electric play has not gone unnoticed with NFL scouts. WalterFootball.com spoke with multiple area scouts who have Colorado in their territory, and they said that Sanders definitely has first-round potential for the 2024 NFL Draft.
“He won’t wow with physical tools,” said an area scout. “But his arm is good enough, especially in the short and intermediary. Mentally, he can operate at incredible speed. He could be the most NFL ready as far as football I.Q.; he bleeds confidence and charisma. He’ll own a team immediately because of his competitiveness and obvious advantage having grown up in the rare NFL bubble. Pro ball will not scare him.”
The track record backs up that opinion, as Sanders has played extremely well thus far in 2023 despite making a big jump in competition. After two games this season, against TCU and Nebraska, Sanders has completed 78 percent of his passes for 903 yards, six touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also has a rushing touchdown. With Jackson State in 2022, Sanders completed 3,732 yards, 40 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also had six scores on the ground. In 2021 as a freshman, Sanders completed 66 percent of his passes for 3,231 yards, 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
The 6-foot-2, 215 pound Sanders is not undersized for the NFL, but he is not as large as the prototype. The junior Sanders has the option to return to Colorado next season rather then depart for the 2024 NFL Draft. With the ability to cash in on NIL money and help his father build the Buffalo’s program, perhaps Sanders will decided to stay in Boulder for another year. However, area scouts are high on his NFL potential, with multiple area scouts telling WalterFootball.com they think Sanders has first-round potential for the 2024 or 2025 NFL Draft.
