Colorado coach Deion Sanders said he will do his part to put his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and Buffaloes receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter in better situations in next year's NFL Draft.
During an appearance on FOX Sports 1's “Speak,” Deion Sanders was asked by co-host Keyshawn Johnson if he would intervene in the draft process if the “wrong” team drafted Shedure.
“Yes, but we're not going to do it publicly. We're going to do it privately,” Sanders said. “Travis is going to be a dad with us until the cows come home.”
.@DeionSanders He said he would intervene if the wrong team drafted Schedul. 👀 pic.twitter.com/WK67vSyouY
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) November 12, 2024
Shedule Sanders and Hunter are both likely first-round picks. The Athletic's Dane Brugler ranked Hunter No. 1 on his latest list of the top 50 NFL Draft prospects. Sanders was No. 23, third among quarterbacks behind Miami's Cam Ward and Alabama's Jalen Milroe.
Sanders declined to specify which team he would like Shedur to play for, but instead listed the characteristics he would like to see in Shedur's next destination team.
“He's a player who can handle a quarterback and understand what he's capable of and handle him,” Deion Sanders said. “Someone or an organization that has had success with quarterbacks in the past or understands what they're doing. Without the support and infrastructure of the team, you can't just be thrown out to the wolves. there is no.
“Forget the (offensive) line. He played on a line that wasn't great, but he was able to do his job. But just the infrastructure of the team and the direction we're going. is.”
Colorado is 7-2 and ranked 17th in this week's College Football Playoff rankings. The Buffaloes host Utah on Saturday for sole second place in the Big 12 and are on pace for a league title and a playoff berth.
Hunter topped The Athletic's Heisman straw poll this week.
Sanders coached his son throughout his football career, from youth leagues to high school to Jackson State University, and the two came to Colorado after the 2022 season. Sanders also reiterated that he is happy to be in Colorado when asked if he would be interested in coaching the Dallas Cowboys, where he played for five seasons.
“Shedur started every game in high school and started every game but one in college, and he's just that kind of player. He has real talent. It comes from God. “He loves football,” he said. “This kid loves this game and has an insatiable desire to win. And I want someone to be able to push him to the next level, draft him just because he's not on the team.” Not to be.”
Eli Manning, who won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants, famously announced before the 2004 NFL Draft that he and his father, Archie Manning, would not play for the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers held the No. 1 pick, but Mannings was against Eli starting his career there. One reason for that was how the team handled personal issues that arose during the tenure of 1998 No. 2 pick Ryan Leaf. The Chargers drafted Manning, but he was traded. On the same day he was traded to the New York Giants.
The move mirrors actions Sanders made during his own draft process in 1989. The Giants required draft prospects to undergo a two-hour psychological evaluation at the NFL Scouting Combine. Upon learning that the Giants had the 18th pick in the draft, Sanders refused to be evaluated.
“I said, 'I'll be home by then.' See you later. I don't have time for this,” Sanders said in a 2017 interview.
The Atlanta Falcons drafted him fifth overall.
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