The “calculus may be different” for Colorado football star Shedeur Sanders when it comes to an NFL jump according to Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Sweeney — with Sanders having the potential to cash out in college in a way that makes staying in Boulder an option.
“Turning down the chance to be a first-round pick would be challenging, but the calculus may be different for Sanders given his father Deion will still likely be coaching the Buffaloes and star wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter won’t be eligible for the NFL draft for another year,” Sweeney wrote. “Plus, with record TV ratings already after just a few weeks, brands are all going to want a piece of Shedeur Sanders. Earning $10 million would make him the most marketable athlete of the NIL era, but if the Buffaloes keep winning, his star will only continue to grow.” FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt initially floated out the hypothetical $10 million figure during a September 20 appearance on The Herd.
“It’s not as cut and dry as it used to be because of NIL,” Klatt prefaced before saying, “You think of NIL like, ‘oh, he could make a couple million bucks,’ I think Shedeur might be able to make $10 million!”
"I think Shedeur might be able to make $10 million... We have no idea what his ceiling is from an NIL perspective."
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) September 20, 2023
— @joelklatt pic.twitter.com/NQLaZ9a78b
Coach Prime may be hedging with his edict to Shedeur to return to Colorado football in 2024
Coach Prime made waves when he told his son, Shilo, that his brother Shedeur wasn’t going to the NFL; but instead returning to the Colorado football program for the Buffs’ inaugural Big 12 season in 2024.
“We kind of got into it once we came here,” Coach Prime said of Shilo. “Shilo said, ‘Oh wow, Shedeur look. You’re going to be in the NFL next year.’ I said, ‘No he ain’t.'”
Coach Prime said Shilo & Shedeur aren’t going anywhere 😅
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 19, 2023
(Via @WellOffForever) pic.twitter.com/6hN8l6AWv1
For several reasons, this could be seen as a hedge from Coach Prime. For one, Shedeur is now covered if his NFL draft stock tumbles in the coming weeks as Pac-12 play kicks into high gear. And it very likely will.
The other: this is Deion Sanders’ way to ensure he will be in Boulder as the Buffs embark on a Big 12 jump that they might not have been able to without him.
Coach Prime is a smart man. He knew what he was doing in a video that makes him seem concerned with the long-term health of the Buffs; which he may actually be for all we know.