Earlier in the week, Colorado Buffaloes quarterback and NFL Draft prospect Shedeur Sanders displayed his growing leadership qualities during the Alamo Bowl press conference. During the interview, Sanders explained how he wanted to be there with his teammates for this big game, despite other prospects opting out of their respective bowl games.
The Buffaloes are playing in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 28 against the BYU Cougars. This season, the Cougars finished the regular season with a record of 10-2 in the Big 12 Conference, one game better than Colorado, who finished 9-3. BYU finished second in the Big 12, with their Alamo Bowl opponent two spots behind them in the standings.
Shedeur Sanders Impresses at Bowl Game Press Conference
In the previously mentioned press conference, Sanders explained how he was not like other players and how he believed it was his responsibility and role as a teammate to play in these meaningful contests.
“I don’t do what other people do. I feel like that’s even from the beginning. We went to HBCU and not every offer in the country, so it’s like I don’t really care what other people do and it’s about I’ll say it’s about the team and it’s about everything I stand for,” Sanders said.
NFL Draft prospects opting out of bowl games is essentially a college football tradition, as an injury in a “meaningless” game could wreak havoc on one’s draft stock. That could be the difference in a player going on Day 2 or Day 3, or perhaps being drafted at all.
For a prospect of Sanders’ status, any slide away from No. 1 overall could cost him millions of dollars. The decision to play isn’t a small one by any means.
Sanders 2025 NFL Draft Projection
At the time of this writing, Sanders is expected to be one of the first names taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. This sentiment is shared by Pro Football Network’s Alex Kennedy, who has Sanders being selected No. 1 overall by the New York Giants in his latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft.
As Kennedy notes, “PFN’s Playoff Predictor not only projects the playoff picture and Super Bowl winner, it also predicts which team will land the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Factoring in each team’s record, metrics, and remaining schedule, our model gives the New York Giants the best odds to pick No. 1 overall (43.2%), and they currently hold the top selection…
“By selecting Shedeur Sanders, the Giants land their quarterback of the future to pair with Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy Jr. Arm strength and accuracy are two of the most distinct selling points on Sanders’ tape. He generates easy velocity and has a degree of off-platform freedom. And while his mechanics aren’t perfect, he can find uncanny ways to hit targets with good placement and touch.”
Sanders’ performance on Saturday may not impact his draft stock, but the decision to play in an era of justified opt-outs is noteworthy nonetheless. He’ll have one more chance to put an exclamation point at the end of his college career.