The University of Colorado football has overtaken college football over the last two seasons. Deion Sanders rebuilt the Big 12 program back into national relevance, but the celebrity spoke louder than the product on the field.
Year two was much improved from year one though the team’s biggest stars transcended the reality of a middle of the pack power conference team. When fans tuned in to watch Colorado, they watched for Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders.
Hunter won the Heisman and could go first overall in the draft, but Sanders garnered even more notoriety being Deion’s son. Many have wondered how that would translate into the professional ranks.
That persona seemingly has not been an issue until now. According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, an anonymous quarterbacks coach claimed that Sanders came across as “arrogant” and “brash” in his interview at the NFL Scouting Combine.
She kept the source anonymous but did reveal the coach’s affiliated team picks in the top seven this season. This, however, did not affect the overall impression of Sanders coming out of the week.
Sanders appeared to go out of his way to acknowledge multiple media members, regardless if they were recognizable or not. He seemed cordial, polite, witty, thoughtful along with being confident (as many athletes are).
“Alternately, these observations were distinctly different from how another QB prospect came off to some in the media last year in Indy.”
That is a lot to unpack there and a strange twist in the NFL Draft build-up.
The Cleveland Browns are among those first seven selections and could have some interest in Sanders. So could someone in their camp have voiced those concerns?
Potentially, but playing the guessing game is a bit of a fool’s errand especially as it seems this is a minority opinion. Sanders appears grounded given his fame and situation, letting those aspects of his life influence him much less than other college football stars
Years ago, the Browns took a chance on Johnny Manziel who arguably reached the same stardom or higher. His professional career quickly burned out because of his antics off the field.
From the Browns side, perhaps that occurrence gives more trepidation when thinking about adding a player like Sanders. But again, these are two very different cases.
With all the needs the Browns have heading into the draft, they may pass on Sanders early for reasons extending beyond any impressions or opinions. However, if they somehow find themselves in position to take him again, one opinion should not shape their entire view of Sanders.
