Uncle Neely shares worries about Colorado football stars' expectations

Thee Pregame Show's Uncle Neely doesn't want to see the word "Heisman" continue to be associated with Colorado football stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter unless the appropriate level of winning is reached for it to be relevant.

“If your team ain’t winning, you move out of the discussion for Heisman and you saw that last year," Uncle Neely said on the Unk and Chico show. "We start losing games, their names go out of dimension. So all of this is tied to winning, they understand that. That’s why the goal is first and foremost, not Heisman, it’s not breaking records, the goal is to win.”

Unfair expectations have already been placed on the duo. CU alum and FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt placed the burden of Big 12 contention, which would most certainly have both in Heisman conversations but probably lead to a win for Shedeur.

Is that really what we should expect, though? No. And Uncle Neely, one of Coach Prime's close media confidants, is right to temper the expectations when the goal has already been set at six wins. Sanders already promised Peggy Coppom as much at the Black and Gold game.

No need to be carried away beyond that.

Colorado football stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter have NFL draft stocks to raise

No matter where the Buffs are in the standings throughout the season, you can be guaranteed to see Shedeur and Hunter raise their draft stocks as much as they can. There shouldn't be bowl opt-outs expected from the team's biggest stars should Coach Prime's squad make it that far.

Whether or not Shilo Sanders will be a part of the NFL draft mix is unclear. Whether or not anyone else on the Buffs ends up being considered for first-round spots, or draft spots at all, is up in the air too.

But Shedeur and Hunter are near guarantees to be taken in the first round based on 2023 alone.