Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes talks with quarterback Shedeur Sanders #2 during first half of the NCAAF game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium on October 07, 2023 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders did not participate in the Big 12’s joint pro day, but he and his father Deion Sanders made some of the biggest headlines during their interviews Thursday.
In an interview with NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks, Shedeur was asked about all the chatter surrounding him throughout his draft process. The Colorado quarterback has been one of the most challenging prospects to slot in this draft cycle.
Recent mock drafts from The Athletic have him being selected anywhere from the No. 3 pick, to a top-10 pick, to slipping down to the 20s. Film breakdowns show a classic pocket passer with a lacking arm and poor pocket presence.
Shedeur, who has been in the spotlight since his father took the Colorado head coaching role in 2023 and transferred from Jackson State alongside brother Shilo and 2024 Heisman winner Travis Hunter, has experience brushing off criticism.
“We always understood to block out the noise, even from Jackson State and Colorado,” Shedeur told NFL Network. “There’s a lot of critics. There’s a lot of hate. But we know what to do. We know how to handle that in every way, so we remain happy. … Either you’re gonna be watching or you’re gonna be talking about it. It’s gonna be one of the two, so I’d rather be the one getting talked about than the one just watching, hating on another guy.”
Deion addressed the criticisms in an interview with NFL Network. When an in-studio anchor asked Deion about a report based on a source that was critical of his son’s interviews with an NFL team during the pre-draft process, he replied, “Now that was a lie.”
Deion doubled down on his son’s interview process immediately after. When asked how he helped prepare Shedeur for the draft process and subsequent report, Deion replied, “You mean the lies or just the interviews?
“Shedeur has been built for this, man,” Deion said, addressing the pre-draft interview process. “We’ve done this. We got records, we got tape, we’ve got factual evidence of Shedeur at 10 to 12 years old. ‘Tell me about this.’ ‘Tell me about that.’ ‘How do you feel as a kid?’ We’ve practiced and rehearsed this stuff so he’s well-poised in front of the camera, as you just saw, as the world has seen for a multitude of years.”
Deion then turned his attention to the “lies” regarding his son’s interview process, going as far as to say he would “call out” the coach responsible for spreading the anonymous report.
“The lies, that’s gonna be that,” Deion said. “But we’re great with adversity. We’ve always been through adversity. We’ve always been challenged with adversity and the nay-saying and the doubting. He is built for that. He’s the most qualified young man that plays that position that’s built for that, and to be in front of the lights and to continuously shine.
“We like to call that stuff out, though,” Deion continued, smiling. “I know who it is. You’re going to make me call him out. You know what team he’s at, all right? You gotta understand it. Don’t make me pull behind the curtains and step in that thing.”
Bucky Brooks attempted to re-route the interview, telling Deion there was “no need to get petty,” and that “we keep it on the high road.”
“I try my best to keep it on the high road,” Deion said, “but I don’t know the address.”
This is not the first time Sanders has entered himself into his son’s pre-draft process. Back in November, Sanders said he would “privately” intervene with the potential landing sports of both Shedeur and Hunter if he thought the “wrong” team drafted either player.
During his interview, Shedeur was asked about how much weight the Sanders name carries and the pressure and expectations that come along with being Deion’s son.
“I like the pressure that comes with everything,” Shedeur said. “I say pressure is also a privilege. So if you don’t have pressure on you, then I don’t know what you’re doing. So that’s why I’m thankful, and I’m truly blessed that I am in a position, the situation that I’m in, because I wouldn’t want it no other way.”
