August 29th 2024.
Shedeur Sanders had a stellar season last year, making a strong statement as a quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes. He kicked off the year with an impressive performance, setting a new record in a game against TCU that resulted in an unexpected road win. And that was just the beginning. A few weeks later, he led his team to a thrilling victory against rival CSU in double overtime with a remarkable 98-yard touchdown drive in the final seconds. Even when the Buffs were facing some tough challenges, Sanders showed his grit and determination, playing through injuries until he couldn't anymore.
But now, it's time for Sanders to make his final case as a Buffaloes player. As they gear up for their opening game against North Dakota State at Folsom Field this Thursday, Sanders will have the opportunity to showcase his skills in black and gold once again. And if the team steps up and supports their senior quarterback this season, it could truly be a historic one.
CU play-by-play man Mark Johnson believes that if Sanders is given the protection he needs, he has the potential to have one of the greatest seasons in college football history. "Hagan is at the top as national champ, and Kordell is up there too, but Shedeur is going to put himself in the conversation as the greatest Colorado quarterback if he has another season like he did last year," Johnson predicted.
After missing the last six quarters of the 2023 season due to a back fracture, Sanders is now back in top shape. The Buffs have also made some changes, bringing in transfers and the nation's top high school left tackle, Jordan Seaton, to bolster their offensive line. If they can improve their performance from last year, Sanders will have some strong weapons on the outside, including two-way star Travis Hunter, Jimmy Horn Jr., and transfers Will Sheppard and LaJohntay Wester.
And Sanders' achievements from last season are nothing to scoff at. Despite the team's overall stumble, he set several records for the Buffs, including passing yards, completion percentage, touchdown-to-interception ratio, and interception percentage. It's no surprise that Sanders is confident in his abilities, and he's already being projected as one of the top quarterbacks in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
"I'd say that's the difference between me and a lot of other players," Sanders shared at the Big 12 media day. "I'm not close to my ceiling at all. I've got a long way to go."
One factor that could potentially boost Sanders' performance is consistency from the play-caller. Last season, Sean Lewis called the plays for the first eight games before Pat Shurmur took over for the rest of the season. Now, with Shurmur as the Buffs' offensive coordinator, the former Giants head coach and Broncos OC is confident that they can establish a consistent run game that Sanders didn't have last year.
"It's hard to cook in somebody else's kitchen because you can't really change anything at that point," Shurmur explained. "I don't know if last year was a springboard, but what I do know is that we were able to reset and do things the way we wanted to. We brought in some new players, some quality big men, and we installed an offense that works for us. I feel like it's a fresh start moving forward."
But will the revamped offensive line and Shurmur's permanent role be enough for Sanders to take his game to the next level? Head coach Deion Sanders certainly thinks so, especially after seeing the hard work his son put in with his trainer over the summer.
"He's worked on some of the little mechanical things with his quarterback coach out of Houston," Deion Sanders revealed on ESPN last month. "And it's not just the mechanics of footwork and ball placement and releases, but also just getting to know his players and his receivers and where they want the ball. You can see after 7-on-7s and practice, him grabbing a guy, pulling him to the side and telling him what he wants and what he saw."
Of course, the ultimate goal for Sanders and the Buffaloes is to win more games and potentially earn some national honors, such as the Davey O'Brien Award and Heisman Trophy. Sanders' popularity and talent have already earned him the top spot on FOX Sports' list of college football superstars, but he knows he needs to win to truly solidify his place in the discussion for these end-of-season awards.
Former CU quarterback Bobby Pesavento believes that if Sanders puts up impressive numbers and the Buffs have a successful season, his father's fame and the attention he brings to CU could work in his favor. "Now, is he in New York and does he truly have a chance to win? That would take the Buffs doing something really special, like playing for a Big 12 championship again," Pesavento added.
According to CBS Sports national college football writer Dennis Dodd, after being the shining star of the team last year, the Buffs will need to capture some magic in their first season back in the Big 12 for Sanders to be in the Heisman race. "The Heisman winner almost exclusively plays for a 10-win team that competes for a national championship and does something dramatic in November - if not a Heisman moment, a series of Heisman moments," Dodd explained. "It's going to be hard for a QB of a 6-6 team to win it."
As Sanders and the Buffs prepare for their upcoming season, it's clear that there are high expectations for the talented quarterback. Will he be able to rise to the challenge and lead his team to victory? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure - Sanders is determined to continue improving and reaching for greatness.
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