When Mike Farrell Sports came out with an article titled "Quinn Ewers and 5 Players Who Could Take a Step Back in 2024," you just knew that at least one Colorado football player would appear on this list.
Wouldn't you know it? Two players, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, appeared on the list.
Regarding why Hunter could regress, it came down to the likelihood he gets injured since he plays on offense and defense. Sure. But in Shedeur's case, Mike Farrell Sports' Brett Daniels blamed the "Grown" QB's offseason spats and "other public conflicts" for why he will disappoint -- and for why CU could start 0-5.
"Additionally, Sanders has the distraction of social media spats and other public conflicts associated with Colorado Football," Daniels prefaced before saying, "The schedule doesn’t do the Buffaloes' any favors opening the season against FCS powerhouse North Dakota State followed by games at Nebraska, at Colorado State, Kansas State at home, and at Arizona. Starting the season 0-5 is a very real possibility for Sanders and CU."
Shedeur Sanders got caught up in war of words with cut 2022 Colorado football player
The spat Daniels is referring to is Shedeur calling out Xavier Smith for being "mid at best" and not remembering the safety after he complained about the way Deion Sanders dismissed him and other players from the 2022 roster.
"Ion even remember him tbh. Bro had to be very mid at best," Sanders said in April following Smith's tell-all in an exposé from The Athletic's Max Olson.
Smith admitted to having tears in his eyes given the way Coach Prime handled his exit from Boulder.
"He was destroying guys’ confidence and belief in themselves," Smith prefaced before saying, "The way he did it, it could’ve been done with a little more compassion. I was actually getting mad, like tears coming to my eyes. Because, bro, you never even tried to get to know me."
That's old news at this point. It'll certainly be old news by August 29 when the Buffs' season kicks off.