Shedeur Sanders, the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback and a top prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft, made headlines during his visit to the East-West Shrine Bowl in Denton, Texas. He is not participating in practices or the game itself, but his presence at the event has captured the attention of scouts and NFL franchises.
Shedeur Sanders Reminisces ‘Legendary’ Time at Colorado
Talking with a reporter during the Shrine Bowl practice, Sanders shared his thoughts on the upcoming transitions in his football journey, shedding light on the emotional challenges that lie ahead.
When asked about his biggest adjustment heading into the NFL, Sanders admitted, “Missing my receiver, like this guy right here,” gesturing to Jimmy Horn Jr.
He humorously added, “We definitely got homesickness separation anxiety.”
The quarterback-turned-leader in Boulder — who developed under his father, Deion Sanders — emphasized the bond built over years of collaboration with his teammates. Horn Jr. agreed with the sentiment, calling their time together “legendary.”
“Yeah, legendary. Definitely legendary. It was fun last year but all good things must come to an end and we got to strive for bigger and better things,” the Colorado QB said.
.@CUBuffsFootball teammates @ShedeurSanders and Jimmy Horn Jr. @Tooswiftj5 share a moment at the @ShrineBowl. pic.twitter.com/xX1Ey6Ddbr
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) January 25, 2025
Sanders, who boasts 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions to his name in the 2024 college football season, is expected to be a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The 22-year-old QB has already held meetings with teams like the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants.
And in the latest 7-Round NFL Mock Draft here at Pro Football Network, Sanders is projected to be selected first overall by the Titans.
PFN Draft Analyst Dalton Miller says of Sanders, “The days of statuesque passers are a thing of the past. Shedeur Sanders is the evolution of the pocket passer. He’s athletic enough to get on the hoof and pick up first downs with his legs, but many might be surprised to hear he’s not close to the athlete his father was. Instead, he fits into the Geno Smith or C.J. Stroud-like mold.
“Sanders’ almost instantaneous release makes up for what is only a slightly above-average arm. It lets him consistently test tight windows, and his class-best accuracy helps his projection as a long-time NFL starter.
“Sanders’ pressure-to-sack rate and willingness to hold onto the ball could, and should, cause some concern. However, the context to that is he’s also operated on an NFL timeline for the past two seasons behind arguably one of the worst offensive lines in the country.”
Titans head coach Brian Callahan was impressed with Sanders’ composure, noting, “You can tell he’s been in the spotlight and knows how to handle it.”
One moment during his meeting with the Titans was a surprise FaceTime call from his father.
“Even though Shedeur didn’t throw today, I got a chance to talk to him for 15 minutes, and that’s one touchpoint to probably what’s going to be multiple – Combine touchpoint, pro day touchpoint, 30-visit touchpoint, to where you really get to uncover everything about the player. The film is the film, but the rest of it is important – who they are, how they function, what their personality is, what they are like in the building when you get them in for a 30-visit,” Callahan said.
With the 2025 draft set for April, speculations around Sanders’ future are not going to stop anytime soon. Many believe he’s destined to be a top-5 pick; others suggest the Titans might prioritize another quarterback, such as Miami’s Cam Ward or select a generational talent like Penn State’s Abdul Carter.
Regardless of the draft-day outcome, Sanders’ talent and leadership qualities shout out – franchise quarterback.