Quarterback Shedeur Sanders has become perhaps the most exciting player in college football. With his promising performance, he’s challenging traditional NFL scouting standards. With a remarkable career passer rating of 92.3 against top-level opponents during high-pressure two-minute drill situations, he holds the highest recorded mark by Pro Football Focus. Considering how extraordinary his craft is, it’s hard to find someone whose talent and skills deserve this much attention! For one, he goes against all the negative stereotypes often associated with Black quarterbacks.
Throughout his life, Shedeur has been closely guided by his father, Deion Sanders, a prominent figure in football who has transitioned from a respected college coach to the head coach at Jackson State University. From the time he was in elementary school, Shedeur was going all over the country with Deion. They barnstormed with Texas-based youth football teams, where Shedeur learned intangible experience that molded his playing style.
Shedeur’s feats are making incredible history. Yet still, scouts can’t help but pick him apart, questioning whether he can ever live up to the monumental expectations set for Black quarterbacks. They point out that he has a hard time making rapid first-order judgments when the stakes are high. When faced with heightened, overwhelming situations, his responses are markedly slower. These critiques starkly juxtapose with his remarkable accomplishments.
During the recent Colorado pro day showcase, Shedeur took his snaps from Samantha Burrows, a 22-year-old equipment manager. This unexpected action was a reflection of his energy and the down to earth manner that made him relatable to all those he met. Teammates are not shy when it comes to raving about his leadership killer instincts on the field.
Shedeur combines elite mental tools with exceptional physical talents. After big plays, he pulls back his wrist to reveal a diamond-encrusted watch, the visual epitome of his personal style and panache. His unique family background only adds to that. He comes from money, but it’s true that in his football career, Deion signed a $54 million dollar extension. Shedeur has proven to be financially fruitful. This freedom provides him the space to enhance his craft without the acute pressures that so many of his contemporaries experience.
He produced extraordinary efficiency in crucial situations in 2022. Though he had an overall completion percentage of 64%, he mightily impressed with his short-yardage game, completing an astounding 85%. It’s such statistics that illustrate his ability to be calm under fire and to make critical decisions when stakes are highest.
His mentorship under Tom Brady during his college career has too molded Shedeur’s gameplay—especially when it comes to releasing the football in a timely fashion. In particular, he’s learned best practices from perhaps one of the most brilliant NFL quarterbacks ever. These lessons will be invaluable as he readies himself for the next level of football.
All the people clamoring for an honest, favorable comparison of Shedeur to the Mannings and other legendary QBs. Though many doubt the veracity of this boast, these backers are sure of his track record. His exceptional statistics and leadership qualities suggest that he has the potential to be a top-tier quarterback in the NFL.
“When I go visit these coaches and when I go to all these different franchises, I ask them truly what I think and how I feel,” – Shedeur Sanders
No matter what challenges lie ahead, as Shedeur Sanders has shown, on or off the field, he’s always going to find a way to bounce back. He displayed an admirable GPA of 3.9, turning heads at the NFL combine exactly a month ago. This accomplishment speaks volumes that he is more than just an athlete, rather he’s a committed student and scholar.