Colorado football analyst delivers strong verdict on Shedeur Sanders' performance against Baylor
The Coloradoan's Scott Procter believes Shedeur Sanders' performance against Baylor -- a 341-passing yard, two-touchdown, heroic performance that included a game-tying Hail Mary TD with LaJohntay Wester -- could've made him the No. 1 pick.
Procter definitively believes this was the best performance from the "Grown QB" in a Buffs uniform.
"Shedeur Sanders played the kind of game that the first pick of the NFL draft would play," Procter prefaced before saying, "It wasn't always pretty. He completed just 61% of his passes which was one of the lowest marks of his career, but Sanders made play after play to lead his team to victory. Despite being sacked a season-high eight times, the projected first-round NFL draft pick consistently evaded defenders and extended plays with success. He threw for 341 yards and two touchdowns, even rushing for another touchdown and gaining 68 yards on 11 rush attempts (taking out sack yardage). If there were any doubts about Sanders being the top quarterback selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, they should've been quelled on Saturday night."
Before the season, some insinuated that Sanders wasn't even a first-round pick. Among them was NFL Draft on SI's Cory Kinnan, who doubted whether or not the "Grown QB" could convince any NFL team to take within the first 32 picks.
"Sanders has some areas he must improve on from his pre-snap process, to his ability to avoid sacks and navigate muddy pockets better," Kinnan prefaced before saying, "However, there is no doubting his talent. He, however, is not a lock to make the first round with one more year to make a newer name for himself."
Shedeur Sanders continuing upward trajectory as Colorado football's leading man
Shedeur has not faced any roadblocks in his ascension to the top of the college football world. Despite having the worst offensive line in 2023, one that allowed 52 sacks, and an OL in 2024 allowing four sacks per game, Shedeur has thrown 38 TDs and just five INTs in a Buffs uniform.
At his current rate, Shedeur's 2024 numbers will outpace Caleb Williams's during his 2022 Heisman season. It's not crazy to think Colorado's star QB could be a Heisman and No. 1 overall NFL draft pick within the next eight months.